Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement: UNICEF, LWF giving Sudanese refugees a new lease on life

 Thanks to support from UNICEF, LWF and UNHCR in conjunction with OPM, Sudanese nationals fleeing the war in their country are being settled, protected and equipped with survival skills in Uganda

By Moses Sserwanga

There has been an influx of Sudanese refugees in Uganda following a devastating 19-month war in Sudan that has displaced close to three million people. Among the thousands of fleeing Sudanese nationals now seeking refuge at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, the majority are children and women.

These include some unaccompanied and separated children whose parents were either killed in the bloody war, or whose whereabouts are unknown. Faima Mohmm, a nine-year-old girl, is one of them.

“I fled the war in Khartoum with my mother and elder 12-year-old sister, Kahaan Eprhn. We were in a group of ten people and moved a long distance up to the Uganda border in Nimule, where we were received by a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHRC) team. After the registration process, we were transported to Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement and are now camped at the reception centre,” she narrates while thanking Allah that they are alive and in a safe place.

Mohmm’s story is shared by many other children who spend much of their daytime at the mobile Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs), which have been set up at the settlement’s reception centre to rehabilitate and offer psychosocial support to children affected by the Sudan war. The spaces, which are managed by Lutheran World Foundation (LWF) on behalf of UNHCR, have been set up with support and funding from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Uganda. 

This six-month UNICEF-supported child protection intervention kicked off from 28th May to 27th November 2024 targeting the Sudanese influx. It accommodates both refugee and national child communities living around the settlement and provides individual care management and support to children with mental and physical health challenges, among others.

“The CFSs have been part of an emergency response since December 2023. We received support of US$68,370 equivalent to UGX260,629,091 from UNICEF to respond to the needs of refugee children by improving their living conditions and providing protection services,” explained Ms Winfred Mandeku, the LWF focal person for child protection.

“Several activities are carried out at the CFSs to rehabilitate children so that they can rediscover their socializing skills by playing games and learning to interact and share positive experiences with their peers. Our trained caregivers offer psycho-social support to improve the mental wellbeing of the children. The CFSs also help the caregivers to identify children who need protection from physical and psychological abuse. For children who need support to access other services, appropriate referrals are made to the different service points, with follow-ups made by the child protection caseworkers,” she added.

At Kiryandongo, Mohmm and her sister Kahaan are part of 125 children who are being helped to learn English, count, draw and shade pictures to improve their abilities to speak, write and engage in active sport while bonding with their peers.

“I love to come here (the CFSs) to meet and interact with my newfound friends. We are allowed to play various games including football and netball. We also play board games, and our facilitators give us learning materials to read and write,” stated Mohmm, who wants to be a nurse when she grows up.

The Kiryandongo Reception Centre Mobile CFS, just like others spread out in the settlement, has two facilitators male and female. Irene Achola, one of them, has witnessed firsthand how the CFSs are transforming the lives of these war affected children.

“Many children brought here could hardly speak. They were withdrawn and exhibited signs of deep fear. We could tell that they were traumatized by the effects of war. The CFSs have helped them to open up and enjoy their lives again, which is very encouraging to those of us who are giving the social care support,” she said.

“UNICEF support also helps LWF to identify and train caregivers of children with disabilities. So far, 29 caregivers have been trained to offer counselling services and social support to refugee parents to change their attitude towards their children as part of the positive parenting sessions. This is because concerns about neglect, poor feeding and lack of medical care were documented among families of children living with disabilities. We encourage parents to seek support and services for their children in a timely manner,” Mandeku said.

LWF is also utilizing UNICEF support to set up women and girls’ safe spaces where they can be given some life skills. The spaces also serve as counselling centres for females at risk of Gender Based Violence – and its survivors.

“At these spaces, we engage newly arrived female refugees in both soft and hard skilling activities. The soft part caters to their freedom of expression in order for them to openly share their experiences and challenges and find solutions. They are also given skills in tailoring, soap making and backyard farming practices,” Mandeku added.

UNICEF support has also helped LWF to train another 99 women and 21 foster families to acquire skills in business management. These skills include bookkeeping and financial literacy to empower them to be self-reliant and provide the basic needs of their families. This reduces vulnerability and helps lower sexual exploitation, abuse and Gender Based Violence. They are also trained to report cases of abuse by using the inter-agency Feedback, Referral and Resolution Mechanism (FRRM) line 0800323232 which is operational within the refugee settlement, and Sauti 116 for the host communities.

According to Mandeku, the women are given conditional monetary grants each to start-up businesses of their choice in order to sustain themselves and their families upon completion of training.

The foster families, according to Mandeku, are carefully selected following strict procedures in order to care for unaccompanied and separated children living within the refugee settlement. 

Many of these children’s parents were killed and others separated from their families in the stampede and fleeing caused by the war.

Ms Nabila Ajilan (49), a single mother of three children, heads one of the foster families and takes care of two teenage refugee girls. Maaza Ather (17) is in Senior One at Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School while Arisa Jafar (15) arrived at Kiryandongo on 6th October 2024 and is yet to enroll in school. Both girls lost their parents and family members before they fled the war from different parts of Sudan.

“We like our new mother. We are quite stubborn, but she looks after us well. We are happy to be here, living in peace,” said the more talkative of the two, Ather.

As for Ajilan, all she wants is to see her newly adopted daughters studying hard to become responsible citizens of the world. “I want these girls to become doctors. I will be the happiest woman if my dream is realised,” she said, hugging the girls.

The government of Uganda through the Office of The Prime Minister (OPM) has welcomed UNICEF’s support to UNHCR’s implementing partner, LWF, and the various interventions that have been put in place at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. The OPM team, led by the Commandant of the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Mr Emmanuel Turyagyenda, said that at the beginning of the year, they faced an emergency following a huge influx of over 10,000 Sudanese refugees.

“We have managed to settle many of the refugees in the different cluster villages within the settlement and a limited number remain at our reception centre. All this has been possible because of the support from our partners UNICEF, LWF and UNHCR,” stated Shamil Adam, a Community-Based Protection Officer at OPM.

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European Union Ambassadors Tour Kiira Vehicle Plant As Kiira Motors Champions E- Mobility In Africa

 

The Heads of Mission of the European Union led by Ambassador Jan Sadek who is the Head of the EU Delegation to Uganda have toured the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja aboard the 2024 model Kayoola fully electric Coach in a marked endorsement of the country’s E- mobility solutions.

They were received by the Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) management team led by the  CEO Mr.  Paul Isaac Musasizi. 

The Ambassadors  appreciated  the KMC management for putting in place a  skilling program for  e-bus operators and building a world-class automobile engineering and parts manufacturing facility – all while creating sustainable employment opportunities for the people of Uganda.

The Kiira Vehicle Plant is the biggest, most capable and most competent bus manufacturing plant on the African Continent.

“This plant unlocks unprecedented opportunity for import substitution, job creation, technology transfer, and ultimately, contributing toward the realization of Uganda’s ambition of the 10 fold growth from an economy of USD 50bn to USD 500bn by2040,’” Mr. Musasizi said in a presentation .

“The Kiira Vehicle Plant is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together with purpose.  Every nut, bolt, and beam on the plant represents opportunity. Opportunity for families, communities, and for a brighter, more sustainable future for Africa. It represents the chance to produce something we can all be proud of—a vehicle that moves people, connects lives, a vehicle that drives change, “ he added .

The writer is a Stakeholder Engagements , Media and Communications Consultant and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

 Email:msserwanga@gmail.com

Uganda Airlines New Direct flights To Abuja Excite West Africa ,To Boost Trade And Enhance Connectivity On The African Continent

 

By Moses Sserwanga

Entebbe, Uganda – The national carrier  -Uganda Airlines now on a steady path to open up the minerals rich African continent has recorded another major milestone  by launching direct flights to the commercial hub of West Africa – Abuja Nigeria.

 

Later this month the airline ,hardly five years in operation will spread its wings to Lusaka Zambia and Harare Zimbabwe. Executives at the airline, led by CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki, say the latest routes-opening is part of  a broader strategy to expand its services across the vast African continent to boost trade and enhance regional connectivity- a corner stone of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA,) development agenda.

 

Fred K. Bamwesigye, the Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), the national air travel regulator was elated by Uganda Airlines latest achievement in a short period of time  -noting marked growth of Uganda’s aviation system and its potential to foster deeper ties between Uganda and West Africa.

 

Bamwesigye highlighted the instrumental role played by the UCAA in facilitating Uganda Airlines' growth and expansion. The authority has been a strong partner in ensuring that Uganda Airlines adheres to the highest standards of safety, security, and service throughout its operations.

“We are committed to supporting Uganda Airlines through this process and in its future expansion plans,” Bamwesigye stated while explaining that the UCAA's role goes beyond regulatory oversight, offering strategic guidance and infrastructure development to accommodate the airline’s growing needs.

 This has been particularly crucial in securing the success of the Abuja route, as well as Uganda Airlines’ planned expansion to other African and international destinations.

 

The launch of the Entebbe-Abuja route comes a year after Uganda Airlines introduced flights to Lagos, Nigeria making it the 14th destination on a growing list of its network. This new connection is expected to enhance trade between the two nations, enabling faster and more efficient movement of goods and people.

 

The inaugural UR 900 service to Abuja departed Entebbe at 16:00 hours on September 12, with a  same-day arrival at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 18:15.

“We are proud to be living up to our promise to take Nigeria to Uganda and bring Uganda to Nigeria, Abuja is now our 14th point as we embark on our expansion plan,” a jovial , Jenifer Bamuturaki, stated.

“Abuja is our second destination in Nigeria and the fourteenth overall in our network. Its launch  underscores our continuing commitment to ease travel across Africa by providing efficient and affordable air services to facilitate business, tourism, and leisure travel,” Bamuturaki added.

The new route to Abuja will feed into the  Lagos service reducing the travel lead times further, and- available on Thursday and Sunday –while flying national carrier’s flagship Airbus A330-800neo aircraft.

Fred Byamukama, the Minister of State for Works, said this development and others that will follow validate the government’s foresight and strategic vision in its decision to restart the national carrier five years ago.

“Africa is severely disconnected, which makes cooperation and commerce very difficult and expensive. In the absence of efficient and functional road, rail and waterways, air transport is the low-hanging fruit as member states move to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA,)” Byamukama stated.

 “Abuja is a major economic and political centre in Nigeria that plays a crucial role in bilateral cooperation between Uganda and Nigeria. By establishing a route there, Uganda Airlines is enhancing connectivity between the two countries,” he said, adding that increasing air connectivity within Africa will help reduce travel times, lower costs, and improve accessibility across the continent.

He said this will facilitate trade, investment, and economic cooperation, benefiting businesses and the overall economy in both Uganda and Nigeria.

“Direct flights to Abuja will increase Uganda Airlines’ catchment area in the country and make it easier for tourists from Nigeria to visit Uganda and vice versa.

This will boost Uganda’s tourism sector by increasing the flow of Nigerian visitors. Although Nigerian movies have already introduced Ugandans to Nigerian culture, the availability of flights will take cultural interaction between Ugandans and Nigerians to the next level,” he added.

He added that this new flight shows Uganda’s commitment to delivering Africa’s continental integration agenda through enhanced mutual accessibility.

Abuja  launch will be  followed by Lusaka and Harare starting September 25. Officials said the new services will support revenue growth, improve fleet utilization and primes the carrier for planned expansion into Europe and Asia.

“The entry into these markets is meant to build an efficient-optimised regional market which will feed and finance a more profitable long-haul market; grow the aircraft fleet utilisation, create a robust regional network that will serve as a feeder for the Uganda Airlines’ long-haul market, especially London, Mumbai, Guangzhou and Dubai and most importantly support Uganda Airline’s Africa network connectivity,” chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki told  media earlier  in Kampala.

The new routes expand the network to 16 destinations, 14 of them in Africa, one in the Middle East and another to Mumbai, India.

“Launching these routes marks the successful conclusion of our 3-year strategic plan, paving the way for the next phase of our 10-year rolling plan. This strategic approach ensures that our expansion is not just a leap of faith but a well-thought-out progression,” said chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki.

Lusaka and Harare will be served four times a week in a carefully mapped route operation that will see flights alternate between Entebbe-Lusaka-Harare-Entebbe on two days.

Uganda Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Adedayo Olawuyi, said Abuja’s central location in Nigeria, will make the service attractive to travellers from the country’s northern states, who will now have shorter flights out of Nigeria. Three quarters of international airlines flying to Nigeria prefer to land in the commercial capital, Lagos, leaving a huge connectivity gap in Abuja.

Adedayo added that the new services will improve aircraft utilisation, taking average daily flying time of the CRJ fleet to 9.6 hours and the Airbus A330-800s to 8 hours.

What it means for the traveler

These carefully mapped out routes are a game changer for air travel in Africa. Uganda Airlines’ new service for instance will instantly eliminate the hirtherto connectivity nightmare that travelers in Africa faced by flying to Europe before connecting to their preferred destinations within Africa .

Now,  travelers from Nigeria’s central, northern, and northeastern regions can have direct flights offered by  Uganda Airlines to destinations such as  Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Mumbai, and Dubai . Uganda Airlines flights come at a fair price and with significantly reduced travel lead time.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com

 

Indigo To Host 81st IATA AGM In Delhi AS It’s CEO Pieter Elbers Is Appointed Chair Of IATA Board Of Governors

 By Moses Sserwanga

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, has been appointed the new  Chairman  of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors (BoG). His one-year term began at the conclusion of the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 3 June.

Elbers is the 82nd Chair of the IATA BoG.  He succeeds RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo who will continue to serve on the BoG.

Elbers appointment follows  IATA’s announced that IndiGo will also host the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Delhi, India, on 8-10 June 2025.

“We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Delhi, India’s gateway city, for the 81st IATA AGM in 2025. It’s been over four decades since the industry came together for an IATA AGM in Delhi. With record aircraft orders, impressive growth, and world-class infrastructure developments, India is firmly on the trajectory to become the world’s third largest aviation market within this decade.  With such bright prospects, it’s the perfect time for the IATA AGM to return to India and witness these exciting developments first hand,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

“IndiGo is proud to be host airline for the 81st IATA AGM and looks forward to welcoming the global aviation community to Delhi in 2025. India, becoming the third largest economy within the next few years and leading the fourth industrial revolution with the use of AI, is a nation on the move. India’s rise in the global aviation landscape over the last years has been nothing short of remarkable, said Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo. 

“IndiGo has been giving wings to the nation since 2006 and increasingly also expands internationally. Building on aviation as a force for good and India’s unique diversity, we are looking forward to engaging in meaningful dialogues aimed at sculpting the global aviation landscape around important topics such as safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as sustainability, while efficiently delivering the growing global demand for air travel,” he added .

The decision to host the 81st IATA AGM in India was made at the 80th IATA AGM in Dubai. This will be the third time the IATA AGM has convened in Delhi, having previously visited India in 1958 and 1983.  

On his appointment as the new IATA Board Chairman , Elbers stated thus , “It is indeed an honor to assume this role at a time when India is emerging as one of the world’s largest and fastest growing civil aviation markets and evolving into a formidable force in the airline industry.

 Adhering to IATA’s legacy of aviation as a force for good, we will continue in our focus of highlighting the benefits of aviation in building connections, augmenting trade, tourism and mobility—benefits also so visible in India.

 At the same time, it is imperative that we persist in our commitment towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive and also more sustainable aviation industry, creating positive change for generations to come. IATA plays a pivotal role in establishing global standards; I am eager to continue collaborating with global industry leaders, regulators, and stakeholders towards our collective goals.”

Elbers has over 30 years of broad experience in the aviation industry. He has been CEO of IndiGo since September 2022 and has taken IndiGo on a journey of expansion and internationalization since.

Walsh praised the outgoing  Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the outgoing and first woman to serve as IATA Board Chair , for helping to  establish Focus Africa as a key initiative to expand aviation’s social and economic benefits on the African continent.

“ And, as our first female BoG Chair, Yvonne has been an inspiration for the 25by2025 initiative to improve aviation’s gender balance,”  Walsh added .

He pledged to work closely with the new Board Chair to deliver the industry’s sustainability commitments, address supply chain challenges, and strengthen the global standards critical for our industry’s efficient connectivity.

Chair Elect and Board of Governors Appointments

IATA announced Luis Gallego Martin, Chief Executive Officer, IAG (representing IBERIA), to serve as Chair of the BoG from June 2025, following Elbers’ term.

Editor:mserwanga@gmail.com

Emirates To Host The 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit June 2-4th, 2024 In Dubai

 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Emirates will host the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 2-4 June 2024.  

“We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Dubai for the 80th IATA AGM in 2024. Dubai is a dynamic city and a major aviation hub connecting the world. The UAE’s positive approach to aviation has built a strong airline with a strong hub airport. Together, these make an enormously powerful and positive contribution to the society and economy of the UAE. Holding the AGM in Dubai will be a showcase of what can be achieved by aviation with supportive government policies and decisions,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.   

“Emirates is delighted to host the 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. We look forward to welcoming all our aviation industry colleagues to Dubai in 2024,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. 

The decision to host the 80th IATA AGM was made by the 79th AGM in Istanbul.  

This will be the first time the UAE and Dubai will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. 

IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 320 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com

Uganda’s Automakers Kiira Motors Unveils Its 2024 8-Meter Kayoola Fully Electric Model

By Moses Sserwanga 

Uganda’s Automotive industry flagship, Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) ,fresh from showcasing its premuim products for the East African (EAC) regional markets in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, has now delivered a batch of new eight 8-Meter Kayoola EVS (fully electric ) buses produced at Luweero Industries Limited in Nakasongola to the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja, bringing the total stock of Electric Buses produced in Uganda to fifteen (15).

This has signaled Kiira Motors’ readiness for delivering bespoke electric mass transit solutions for the African market.

The 2024 8-Meter Kayoola EVS is a fully electric city bus with a nominal range of 200 kilometres on a full charger and capacity of 56 passengers. It forms the latest offering from Kiira Motors’ rich portfolio of state-of-the-art Ugandan-made buses.

The bus is built to offer the utmost comfort and convenience with features like infotainment systems, CCTV cameras, E-Ticketing & Cashless Payment Systems, Wi-Fi, inclusive design for the elderly and persons with disabilities, USB charging, ample carrying capacity, and the highest quality and safety standards. 

The convoy of 8 buses caused a stir as they weaved through traffic from Luwero to Kawempe, across the Northern Bypass for a brief stopover at the Kisaasi roundabout before proceeding to Bweyogerere and finally to Jinja covering a distance of 236 kilometres. 

Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, Kiira Motors’ Executive Chairman, said, “Uganda’s push towards becoming a net source of e-Mobility Solutions in Africa is steadily getting closer and we are proud to be contributing to this agenda. This progress has been made possible by the strategic partnership we have fostered with National Enterprise Corporation and its Luwero Industries Limited subsidiary.” 

He added that following World Environment Day – which is celebrated internationally on the 5th of June every year – and with the knowledge that Kampala’s air is nine times more polluted than the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recommended limit – more Ugandan public and private sector players need to embrace environmentally sustainable means of mass transit for the good of the environment with solutions that offer quality and value for money like the Kiira Motors portfolio of products. 

The company is also looking to mainstream the deployment and distribution of its fast-charging infrastructure to cater to its customers and other Ugandans who have embraced the electric vehicle transition. 

Eng. Ian John Kavuma, Kiira Motors’ Quality Inspection and Testing Manager added, “We are in the process of onboarding several partners with whom we shall work to ensure that a robust charging network is established across the country in line with the National E-Mobility Strategy for a seamless electric vehicle ownership experience.” 

Kiira Motors offers fast-chargers ranging between 60kW and 360kW. 

The 2024 Kayoola EVS comes in the following variations: 18-meter EV with capacity of 120 passengers; 12-meter EVS with capacity of 90 passengers; 10-meter EVS with capacity of 70 passengers, 8-meter EVS with capacity of 56 passengers; and 6-meter with capacity of 20 passengers. 

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com

Sauti 116 bolsters government response to violence and abuse in homes and communities in Uganda

By Moses Sserwanga

At Sauti 116, the counsellors working in 24 hour 7 days a week shifts are always at their workstation by 7 a.m. every day to receive calls from the public through a toll-free telephone service with a short-code 116.

Sauti 116 call center is a national mechanism to manage cases of child rights violations and Gender Based Violence (GBV) for children, women and men across the country operated by Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD). It has been acclaimed by many for helping to save lives, resettle victims of child abuse and GBV.

“Sauti” is the brand name of the Uganda Child Helpline. It is a Kiswahili word meaning voice which signifies the voice that the service gives to children and women to report cases of abuse and GVB.

At their modest offices in Kireka, Wakiso District, a committed team working eight-hour shifts, that includes social workers, counselors, and phycologists among others, receives an average of 1,000 calls per day through the Sauti/UCHL helpline currently running on a short-code 116.

The counselors are well trained professionals with capacity to deal with calls from traumatized victims of child abuse and GBV. Ms. Sarah Nahabi, is one of these dedicated professionals and the Sauti call center manager. She says that the team of counselors collectively speak at least 26 out of the 56 local dialects in Uganda.

“Each one of our team members can speak at least three or more local languages. This helps us to deal with all the calls we receive from the different parts of the country,” Nahabi explains.

Approximately, 30-50 of the cases received at the Sauti call centre are critical cases of Violence Against Children (VAC) that require immediate action, referral and follow up. Interestingly, 60 per cent of the callers are male while 40 per cent are female. But Nahabi hastens to add that women report the biggest number of actual cases of abuse and violence.  The children who report cases account for 21 per cent.

The statistics from the helpline data show that child neglect is the most reported form of abuse at (46.5 per cent) followed by sexual abuse (16.0 per cent), physical abuse (15.2 per cent) while 22.3 per cent represent other forms of abuse.

Donors from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GoVUK), Embassy of Sweden in Uganda, British High Commission and UNICEF officials pose for a group portrait after a successful visit at the SAUTI-116 Helpline offices in Kireka, Kampala on 4.04.2024.

Nahabi also noted that 80 per cent of the perpetrators are male and 20 per cent female while 61 per cent of VAC victims are female and 39 per cent male.  She said that English and Luganda are the most spoken languages by the callers and calls are received from all regions in the country including, the Central, Western, Eastern and Northern Regions.

Nahabi further reveals that Sauti 116 has so far received 1.4 million calls out of which 14,378 cases have been closed since November 2021 when a new upgraded system that caters for GBV cases was installed at the centre. This means that as of 2023, Sauti 116 has registered a case closure rate of 40 per cent compared to 34 per cent in 2020.

Closure means that the reported cases have been processed to a logical conclusion and the victims have received justice, post-trauma support among other services and have been resettled.

It is clear from these statistics that the UCHL/ Sauti 116 is helping millions of Ugandans to deal with the rampant vices of child sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation and GBV.

As the UCHL celebrates 10 years of existence several development partners continue to visit the Child Helpline to understand the operations and functionality of the Child Helpline/Sauti 116.

Most recently Sauti 116 was visited by a delegation of UNICEF partners from the Embassy of Sweden – Tomas Lundstrom and the British High Commission Rebecca Bell and Sarah Ikanza to get a deeper understanding of how the facility is serving millions of vulnerable Ugandans across the country.

A delegation of UNICEF partners included Tomas Lundström, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden during a briefing meeting at the SAUTI-116 Helpline offices in Kireka,
Kampala on 4.04.2024. The visit was scheduled to witness the on-ground services offered at the facility.

Mr. John Mugisha, the Senior Probation and Welfare Officer MGLSD and the National Coordinator of Sauti 116/UCHL informed the visiting delegation that that UCHL gives confidence to members of the public to report cases of child rights violations and GBV without fear of being identified for retribution.

“UCHL/Sauti 116 offers hope at a point when children and women who need help but have no one within their immediate environment to provide it. The UCHL does not replace other reporting mechanisms, but rather works along them to increase and improve reporting of violations and abuse against children,” Mugisha explained.

Mugisha said the helpline is also expected to strengthen child protection data collection, management, and reporting for better programming for children affected by violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

He further highlighted a range of services offered at Sauti-116 which include provision of child protection and GBV risk mitigation information to children and adults who contact the facility, toll-free telephone services and face-to-face guidance and counselling to children and adult survivors of abuse and violence.  At Sauti 116 they also encourage walk-insand pick up cases of abuse reported from the radio, television, print media, U-report, Ministry offices and referrals.

The center also has a team of foot-soldiers who follow–up on the reported cases to ensure that the victims and affected persons receive justice, medical support, and other needed care from the different duty bearers across Uganda’s justice system these are called Case workers.

Sauti 116 carries out community education and awareness creation on childcare and protection. The centre also responds to reported cases of online child sexual abuse and exploitation which are also on the rise given the increased internet accessibility and offers mental health and psychosocial support.

The timely UNICEF support. 

Mugisha says that Sauti 116/UCHL would not be in existence without the generous support from UNICEF and partners. “UNICEF has over the 10 years continued to support 80 per cent of the operations of the child helpline. These include the provision of internet, airtime, facilitation for case workers, counsellors, capacity building, fuel, and transport. Other services UNICEF is supporting at the center include case response emergency rescue, prevention-awareness raising in schools and communities, community case clinics with local government and police, referral and follow up,” Mugisha reveals.

With support from UNICEF, the district action centres were set up to offer monitoring and support supervision for case work in the districts. The child helpline receives most of the data on VAC and GBV and coordinates integrated multi sectoral case management services for children and women victims at the local district action centres.

SAUTI 116 functionality

“Sauti 116 offers a confidential mechanism through which children and adults report abuse and access supportive services to address the effects of abuse, while linking to statutory actors such as health centres and hospitals, police and courts of law to ensure that the perpetrators of child abuse are held accountable,” Mugisha notes.

“Our centre adopts a three-tier service delivery framework which includes the national call centre at Kireka where calls from affected persons are received by qualified staff/professional counsellors 24 hours, seven days a week, 365/6 days a year. The counsellors respond to calls and provide online counselling, guidance/information as required by the caller, and escalate cases requiring direct intervention to the district action centres as appropriate which are managed by the District Probation and Social Welfare Officers,” Mugisha stated.

It is expected that Sauti 116 will eventually be expanded to include text messages, chat messages, and emails.

The district action centres are now established in 120 districts. These centres are the point of integrated response to cases of child abuse, neglect, exploitation for VAC and GBV that are reported through the helpline.

The district action centres are managed by district probation and social welfare officers or community development officers who take responsibility for following up on reported cases and pool resources to address the needs of a particular reported case.

“In cases where children or victims of GBV are in danger or in an emergency, such cases are immediately responded to through the integrated case management system from the supervisors at the national call centre to the caseworkers at the established district action centres. This ensures that necessary steps are immediately taken to ensure that the child is linked to appropriate services for longer-term assistance,” says Mugisha.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com