Human rights violations and Child protection are some of the biggest challenges UGEM addresses in her areas of coverage and the country at large. In order to mitigate the effects of human rights violations, UGEM with financial assistance from UCMB implemented several activities to advocate for the protection of rights of vulnerable groups in nine implementing districts. 

The activities targeted SGBV prevention, girl child education and retention in school and voicing the health concerns of KPs through sensitizations, awareness creation and promotion of girl Child Education. In addition, 145 OVC were supported with scholastic materials i.e.  Books, Pens, Uniforms, Geometry Sets, Shoes, Sanitary towels and clothing. Inclusive were Community Dialogues were conducted with 80 parents/guardians of OVC on menstrual hygiene and sanitation geared towards keeping young girls in school while 50 Young girls and women were trained and equipped with skills in Craft and Bricket making and marketing to improve livelihoods

In addition, UGEM revitalized and facilitated Gender desks in 6 districts to receive SGBV cases, record, report and refer SGBV survivors in the target areas. Specifically, Community Development Officers were facilitated to record and follow up GBV cases. Local leaders and partner CSOs were trained on GBV response and referral of cases to the CDO and Police. Thus, the project supported on-going psychosocial support, advice and referral services to victims of GBV, stigma and discrimination among target groups. Relatedly, UGEM trained and oriented local leaders for example secretaries for Health, police child and family protection unit, probation and welfare officer on child protection and response.  

In order to strengthen the capacity of the target groups especially vulnerable populations, Adolescent and young women, UGEM conducted 62 seminars and life skills trainings on sexuality and life skills and reached out to 1860 vulnerable young people. These activities have continued to be a pillar towards Human Rights promotion and Child protection through prevention, response to violence, exploitation and abuse. 

The Defeat TB project was implemented in Wakiso District with support of University Research Co. (URC)/ USAID for a period of 12 Months with a goal of contributing to the reduction of new TB infections and control its effects by the end of July 2019 among high-risk populations including prisoners, slum dwellers, factory workers, PLHIV and contacts of confirmed and infectious TB patients using local structures. Specifically the project aimed at increasing the level of community awareness & demand for services, increasing case finding, improving average treatment success rates for patients, strengthening M&E systems, referrals and community linkages for effective data collection, analysis and reporting for vulnerable populations in TB hotspots and congregate settings.  Several activities were implemented to achieve the objectives including Strengthening Coordination and community structures; Community awareness and demand creation and Improving TB treatment outcomes using several implementation strategies including peer to peer mobilization and education, Community Dialogues, Community TB Screening, contact tracing, Home visits and adherence support, counselling, Client follow up and Community Based DOTs. Monitoring, DQAs, CQI and support supervision.

Tremendous achievements were realized including sensitized and screened of 1,389 individuals, 142 TB cases were identified, followed up to treatment success. The project also distributed 51,924 male condoms, 517 female condoms as part of integration.

This project was geared towards Strengthening community HIV, SRH, GBV response and improving client linkage to care and treatment in Kalungu District. Key tasks included community mobilization and sensitization, facilitate community services outreach for provision of HIV counselling and testing, TB and STI screening, GBV case registering and counselling, client enrollment into care, community drug refills, distribution of condoms and other SRH commodities, referrals, etc. Several approaches were used to deliver on the activities for instance community mobilization and sensitization, community services outreach for provision and small group/ individual BCC interventions. Corresponding activities included of HIV counselling and testing, TB and STI screening, GBV case identification, registering and counselling, client enrollment into care, community drug refills, distribution of condoms and other SRH commodities, referrals, etc. Further still the project engaged in Contact tracing, Hot spots moon light activities, Targeted IEC programming, Community dialogues, HCT hotspot outreaches, SGBV Reduction and Child protection, Sexuality and life skills, OVC Psychosocial support services, Advocacy, partnerships and collaboration,  formation of Community Support groups, support supervision, monitoring, learning and reporting. The project also supported the establishment and functionality of several Internal Lending and Saving Community (SILC) groups for OVC families.

The project realized several achievements including increased health seeking Behaviour and uptake of  services, increased identification  and enrollment of new HIV positives into care and linkage to other services, increased demand for services, increased coverage of comprehensive HIV prevention, psychosocial, care and treatment services through user friendly services for target groups, increased knowledge on HIV, GBV and OVC services, GBV and child abuse cases followed up,  built capacity for OVC, youth, women, community mobilisers, health workers, for DSDM, friendly services, life skills, self-help groups  for women, PLHIV, young people and children. Attach photo

The ACT project was implemented between 2016 to 2018 and aimed at Strengthening community HIV, SRH, GBV response and improve client linkage to care and treatment in 8 Districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Masaka, Kasese, Luwero, Kabarole, Nebbi. The specific tasks of this project were to conduct community mobilization and sensitization, facilitate community services outreaches for provision of HIV counselling and testing, TB and STI screening, GBV case registering and counselling, client enrollment into care, community drug refills, distribution of condoms and other SRH commodities plus referrals,

Key activities included mobilization, sensitization, health education and demand creation,  moonlight HTS integrating “four tent model”, Targeted evidence based IEC programming where tailored IEC materials including posters, stickers, brochures, fliers and overcoats/reflector jackets focusing on adoption of safer sexual practices, promoting HIV prevention service including HCT, EMTCT, SRH, GBV prevention, Community dialogues integrated with use of community role models such as PHAs and work as change agents and  Door to Door hotspot outreaches. Relatedly, UGEM revitalized and facilitated selected Gender desks to receive SGBV cases, record, report and refer  and follow up SGBV survivors, oriented local leaders for example secretaries for Children, police child and family protection unit, probation and welfare officer on child protection and response trained and oriented local leaders for example secretaries for Children, police child and family protection unit, probation and welfare officer on child protection and response,  trained young people in life skills, engaged in advocacy partnerships and collaborations, documented Best practices, Support supervision, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting.  

Resultantly UGEM supported facilities to increase enrollment of new HIV positives into care, Increased uptake of services at facility due to community mobilization by CSOs, Ensured retention of PLHIVs in community care for instance through carrying out drug refills in the community, Increased community HTS  through different approaches i.e. door to door and home based index and contact tracing, Improved community to facility referrals and linkages, Improved delivery and  distribution of SRH commodities among communities and built capacity of different groups including young people, KPs, PLHIVs,  and Gender Officers to effectively participate in  provision and behavior change. . Additionally Awareness, demand creation and advocacy were promoted through IEC

The Defeat TB project was implemented in Wakiso District with support of University Research Co. (URC)/ USAID for a period of 12 Months with a goal of contributing to the reduction of new TB infections and control its effects by the end of July 2019 among high-risk populations including prisoners, slum dwellers, factory workers, PLHIV and contacts of confirmed and infectious TB patients using local structures. Specifically the project aimed at increasing the level of community awareness & demand for services, increasing case finding, improving average treatment success rates for patients, strengthening M&E systems, referrals and community linkages for effective data collection, analysis and reporting for vulnerable populations in TB hotspots and congregate settings.  Several activities were implemented to achieve the objectives including Strengthening Coordination and community structures; Community awareness and demand creation and Improving TB treatment outcomes using several implementation strategies including peer to peer mobilization and education, Community Dialogues, Community TB Screening, contact tracing, Home visits and adherence support, counselling, Client follow up and Community Based DOTs. Monitoring, DQAs, CQI and support supervision.

Tremendous achievements were realized including sensitized and screened of 1,389 individuals, 142 TB cases were identified, followed up to treatment success. The project also distributed 51,924 male condoms, 517 female condoms as part of integration.

The project’s goal Is to reduce the risk of HIV infection and mitigate its impact among Key and Priority Populations (KPPs) such as sex workers, Adolescent girls and young women, MSM, Drug users, among others  in Kampala and Wakiso through implementation of key integrated community intervention outreaches including targeted HTS, moonlighting, Self-testing, community dialogues, index tracking and contact tracing, Other activities are; referrals and linkages  of new positives  and lost to follow up clients, distribution of SRH commodities including condoms and IEC, adherence support and community drug refills among others. This project also provides targeted populations with TB and SRH services to complement HIV services for example family planning, STI screening and treatment services. The interventions focus on use of existing community structures and small group initiatives in mobilization and education, partnership development and promotion, linkages referrals and collaboration, Combination/Integrated service delivery and delivered through friendly environment/spaces

Since inception, the project has served 2,499 KPPs with HTS, of which 85 are through HIV self-testing with 105 positives identified  and 80 new positives linked to care and support services. The project has also reached 1,435 KPPs through community Dialogues and 30 KP leaders oriented to increase demand for services and enhance behavior change. Additionally 467,316 male condoms and 4653 female condoms have been distributed, Other SRH products include 425 lubricants distributed plus other assorted consumables including STI drugs, FP methods, deworming Tablets to 1752 individuals. The project has also reached 459 individuals with GBV sensitizations referrals and linkages.