Religious Leaders Come Together for Adolescent Health in the First Central region Inter-Faith Dialogue

Prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, adolescents and young people suffered a number of challenges including teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, sexual assault, drug and alcohol abuse among many others. However since the outbreak of the pandemic these have only worsened as they are out of their ordinary routine which would require them to be in school.

The number of teenage pregnancies, school drop outs, sexual assault cases among others have become worrying and it is because of this that the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance Uganda together with different partners, UNESCO, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports convened with various faith leaders yesterday at the Golf Course Hotel.

Together they held the first ever Inter Faith dialogue was held yesterday under the theme ‘Strengthening Faith-based actions and collaborations for young people’s health’, the religious leaders broadly discussed the emerging adolescent Sexual and reproductive health challenges during the pandemic.

In attendance during the dialogue were senior faith leaders from the Church of Uganda, Born Again Faith Federation, the Catholic Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Union, Orthodox Church, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and representation of young people from the various partner organizations present.

“In Uganda, we have a lot of schools and health facilities that belong to religious sects. So, there is a need for our religious leaders to accept the evidence that is on the ground and use this evidence to map out the next course of action,” SRHR Alliance Board Member and CEO and Founder Reach A Hand Uganda, Humphrey Nabimanya said.

While giving the Keynote Address, Rev. Dr. Paul Kakooza, Head of Church of Uganda’s Directorate of Education, cautioned religious leaders on the outcomes of them turning a blind eye to the emerging challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic such as teenage pregnancy and Gender Based Violence.

“Sensitization of parents through places of worship and in the communities of communication with their adolescents should be a priority and we need to empower young people to be able to make healthy life choices. It is our role as religious leaders.” Rev. Kakooza stated.

“Communities need to engage in resourceful communication for their young people, providing them with age appropriate information. This is important in fostering a productive generation of young people, true to their values and to the development of the nation at large. ” Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu the State Minister for Primary Education said.

Together, the religious leaders agreed that religion has a fundamental role in influencing and shaping the loves of adolescents and young people so they need to use their platforms to not only preach to them but to guide them in dealing with some of the challenges that they face.