Empowering Women for Better Reproductive Health: UK International Development Partners Champion Access to Family Planning and Mental Health Services in Mukono District.

Mukono District Headquarters:

In a powerful move to improve reproductive and mental health services for women and adolescents, the UK International Development Empower Programme, in partnership with the Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum, Communications for Development Foundation Uganda, Pathfinder International, and the Mukono District Local Government, convened a pivotal co-creation meeting at the District Health Offices.

The meeting, held under the theme “Empowering Women for Better Reproductive Health Outcomes,” brought together district councilors, health stakeholders, policy advocates, and development partners. Their collective goal was to chart a new, data-driven course to improve access to family planning (FP) and mental health (MH) services in a district where demand remains high but systemic challenges persist.

One of the key proposals centered on strategically targeting the top 20% of public health facilities—those that contribute 80% of the district's antenatal care (ANC) reports. These facilities will be transformed into centers of excellence through enhanced planning, improved service delivery, and structured mentorship. Stakeholders also underscored the need to strengthen Health System Youth (HSY) teams to provide integrated FP and MH services, institutionalize annual district-level planning, and build robust mentorship systems to improve the quality of care across facilities.

During the session, fresh data from a Family Planning Uptake Survey (January–June 2025) was shared, highlighting notable trends. Short-term contraceptive methods remain the most preferred in Mukono:

• Injectables: 16,106 users (49%)
• Condoms: 9,641 users (29%)
• 5-year Implants: 2,694 users (8%)
• 3-year Implants: 2,411 users (7%)
• IUDs: 1,317 users
• Oral Contraceptives: 978 users (3%)
• Sterilization (Permanent methods): 17 users

Mukono General Hospital registered the highest number of injectable users (1,352), while Katoogo Health Centre III had the lowest (102). Other reporting centers included Kojja HC IV, Nakifuma HC III, and Kasawo HC III. Despite significant uptake of services, the minimal use of long-term and permanent methods points to possible barriers such as stigma, low awareness, and inadequate service availability.

Stakeholders acknowledged that Mukono District, despite its rapid urban growth, still operates under largely rural healthcare conditions. This reality continues to affect the scale and quality of services, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. Chronic issues such as limited infrastructure, staffing gaps, and supply chain inconsistencies were cited as major hurdles to delivering comprehensive reproductive healthcare.

A particularly thought-provoking moment came when Dr. Isaac Dumba, one of the facilitators, called for the legalization of abortion as a formal family planning option. He noted that although abortion is already practiced—often unsafely—it remains excluded from the formal healthcare system, leaving women at risk. His remarks sparked deep reflection on how national policy could evolve to protect women’s health and reproductive rights more effectively.

The co-creation meeting marked a significant step forward in uniting government, civil society, and community actors under a shared commitment: empowering women and girls to access quality, respectful, and inclusive reproductive and mental health services. With these collaborative strategies and data-driven approaches, Mukono District is positioning itself as a model for responsive and equitable healthcare delivery in Uganda.