KAMPALA, UGANDA – Countries like Uganda that are seeking to reduce teenage pregnancy must move beyond placing the responsibility solely on adolescents and instead create an environment that enables young people to make informed choices, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Uganda Representative has said.

Speaking during the signing of a USD 16 million (approximately UGX 58 billion) funding agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and UNFPA for the Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment (SAY Plus+) programme, Ms. Kristine Blokhus said governments and development partners must ensure young people have access to comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly health services, and non-judgmental contraceptive care if teenage pregnancy is to be tackled successfully.

"We cannot put the burden of such a huge challenge on young people by expecting them to be solely responsible for their sexuality. We need to create an environment that enables them to make informed decisions by ensuring access to non-judgmental contraceptive services, providing comprehensive sexuality education from an early age, and supporting those who become pregnant so they can return to school and continue their education," she said.

The remarks came as the Kingdom of the Netherlands committed USD 16 million (approximately UGX 58 billion) to Uganda's Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment (SAY Plus+) programme, becoming the latest development partner to join the multi-donor initiative aimed at improving young people's health, rights, and empowerment.

The funding agreement brings the Netherlands into a coalition of partners that already includes Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland. The contribution will strengthen Uganda's efforts to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and expand opportunities for adolescents and young people through 2030.

The additional funding is expected to significantly expand the programme's reach, enabling more young people, particularly adolescent girls, young women, out-of-school youth, and refugee populations, to access quality reproductive health services, protection from violence, and life-skills opportunities.

Blokhus described the Netherlands' contribution as a major investment in Uganda's young population, noting that youth account for 73 percent of the country's population.

"As UNFPA, the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights agency, we are thrilled that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has joined the SAY Plus+ initiative alongside Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland, contributing a USD 16 million investment. This funding supports Uganda's youth, who make up 73 percent of the population under the age of 30. The initiative aims to unlock the country's economic potential by investing in youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, preventing school dropouts due to pregnancy or violence, and ensuring they are healthy and empowered to lead," she said.

The Netherlands said its support is informed by its long-standing commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights globally.

"The Netherlands consistently ranks among the countries with the lowest teenage pregnancy and birth rates globally. The remarkably low rate of adolescent pregnancies in the Netherlands is attributed to comprehensive, non-judgmental sexuality education and free, universal access to modern contraceptives. We are pleased to support the SAY Plus+ programme, which focuses on these issues, and we look forward to the four-year journey and the lasting change we can achieve together," said Mr. Bouwe-Jan Smeding, Head of Development Cooperation and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda.

Representing the Ministry of Health, Director for Public Health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, said the Government of Uganda considers the SAY Plus+ programme a key part of strengthening the country's healthcare system.

"Within the Ministry of Health, we maintain a firm conviction that the health of our people is the very foundation of national progress. We do not see the SAY Plus+ initiative as a secondary undertaking, but rather as a core component of our national mission to strengthen primary healthcare and provide comprehensive, integrated health services throughout the country," he said.

Dr. Kyabayinze added that investing in young people's health is essential to unlocking Uganda's human capital potential.

"We often say in government that human capital is Uganda's most valuable asset. But let us be clear: you cannot build human capital without health. By protecting young people's health, enabling them to make informed choices, and delaying early childbearing, we preserve their right to finish school, gain skills, and contribute meaningfully to our economy," he said.

He noted that he was happy the grant was focusing partly on the Busoga sub-region, specifically the districts of Namutumba, Buyende, Namayingo, and Mayuge, which continue to face high rates of teenage pregnancy and other reproductive health challenges.

The SAY Plus+ programme targets adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 years by strengthening youth-friendly health services, improving access to HIV prevention and gender-based violence response services, promoting comprehensive sexuality education, and working with communities to address harmful social norms that contribute to teenage pregnancy and child marriage.

Through the pooled funding model managed by UNFPA, the programme will also enhance coordination among development partners while supporting Uganda's national priorities on youth development, reproductive health, and gender equality.