The Government of Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to justice, strengthening protection of fundamental rights and expanding sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls following the launch of the third phase of the Sexual and Reproductive Health, Access to Justice, Freedom, Equality and Rights (SAFER) Project.
The €3.42 million project, which will run from 2026 to 2029, is expected to benefit 830,872 people across the Karamoja, Acholi and Lango sub-regions, with a focus on women, adolescent girls, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Robert Kasande, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the initiative during its launch at JLOS Towers in Kampala on October 23, 2026.
Kasande, together with Rachel Odoi, the Senior Technical Advisor at the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) Secretariat, hosted the signing of a tripartite agreement involving the governments of Uganda and Austria and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
He said strong government ownership and sustained collaboration among the implementing partners would be essential to building on the achievements of previous phases and ensuring lasting benefits for the targeted communities.
The third phase will expand access to integrated sexual and reproductive health services, strengthen the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV), and improve access to legal services.
It will also strengthen the capacity of justice and human rights institutions, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Human Rights Commission and Local Council Courts.
To improve access to justice, the project will support special court sessions to address case backlogs and promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The initiative will also target harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child marriage, while addressing emerging forms of violence, such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Speaking at the launch, the Head of the Austrian Embassy in Uganda, Dr Katja K., reaffirmed Austria’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations.
UNFPA Uganda Country Representative Kristine Blokhus said the organisation would continue working to ensure survivors of gender-based violence receive timely, dignified and survivor-centred support through integrated health, justice and protection services.
The project will adopt a systems-strengthening approach by integrating interventions into existing government institutions and structures to ensure sustainability beyond the project period.
Civil society organisations, including the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), will also contribute to implementation.
The third phase of SAFER aligns with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and supports government efforts to strengthen access to justice, protect fundamental rights and expand essential services for women and girls in underserved communities.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs commended the Government of Austria and UNFPA for their continued partnership and support towards improving justice, health and protection services in Uganda.
