Iceland and Netherlands Commit Euros 20 Million to Support Development in Kalangala District, Uganda

Strategic Insights -

The governments of Iceland and the Netherlands have committed a significant Euros 20 million (approximately Shs81.2 billion) to boost development programmes in Kalangala District, focusing on empowering adolescent girls and skilling the youth. The five-year programme, implemented by Amref Health Africa in Uganda, aims to improve school attendance and health outcomes, particularly for girls. The initiative will support the delivery of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, and efforts to reduce gender-based violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The programme will be implemented over five years by Amref Health Africa in Uganda, with a focus on empowering adolescent girls and skilling the youth.
  • The Euros 20 million will be used to support the delivery of the HPV vaccine, WASH services, and efforts to reduce GBV and teenage pregnancies.
  • Kalangala District faces a school dropout rate of 34 percent, with girls dropping out of school due to early pregnancies and poor menstrual hygiene.
  • Safe water coverage stands at 65 percent, further compounding health challenges in schools and communities.
  • The WASH project, implemented by Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS), includes the construction of a solar-powered water supply system to benefit schools and surrounding communities.
  • The system is projected to last at least 50 years, and district officials have provided land for the project and pledged continued support.
  • Iceland has been a great partner to Kalangala for years, and the Ambassador of The Netherlands to Uganda, Frederieke Quispel, emphasized the need to ensure girls reach their full potential.
  • The programme supports Uganda's National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy and is aligned with the National Development Plan III through the HEROES initiative, now in its final two years.

Statistics:

  • 32 out of every 100 girls aged 15 to 19 in Kalangala have experienced at least one pregnancy (2023 HEROES report).
  • 18 percent of victims of child defilement in Kalangala are aged 5 to 6, and 26 percent are aged 14 to 17.
  • Bufumira and Mugoye sub-counties report the highest number of GBV cases in Kalangala District.

Sources:

  • The governments of Iceland and the Netherlands
  • Amref Health Africa in Uganda
  • Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS)
  • Kalangala District Local Government
  • 2023 HEROES report