To equip the youth with sexual and reproductive health vital information, Reach A Hand Uganda has introduced its Safe Love campaign, whose service and learning activities are being given for free across the country. The campaign, which was kicked off on Valentine’s Day, aims to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRHR) for youth, focusing on HIV testing, contraceptive education, and safe sex. With the slogan “Love Boldly, Live Safely,” the campaign is making waves by bringing necessary services to the very individuals who require them. The Safe Love campaign has already seen a string of successful activities, including a one-day combined medical outreach in Lungujja. During the outreach, the residents were given free HIV testing, immunization, and contraception services. These are among a broader strategy aimed at ensuring that young people, especially adolescent girls aged 15–19, are given accurate information and services that can help them make well-informed decisions regarding their health.

Apart from the health outreach, the campaign has also included door-to-door peer education sessions.

The sessions have been meant to educate communities on safe sex practices and contraception use. Peer educators have been going door-to-door in homes, discussing sexual health with residents and distributing condoms. Live demonstrations of condom use have also been a central component of the campaign, encouraging safer sex and minimizing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy. The campaign has also utilized digital media to reach even more youth. Through social media engagement, podcasts, and interactive surveys, Reach A Hand Uganda is spreading vital sexual and reproductive health information to more people.

These online efforts are particularly important in a country where young people aged 18–30 make up 77% of the population, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. While many, they are discouraged by high barriers to obtaining accurate sexual and reproductive health information and services. Sulaiman Muganza, Community Engagement Officer at Reach A Hand Uganda, highlighted the challenges youth generally face. “Youth struggle to get reproductive health services due to transport cost and limited access. We directly engage with communities to bridge this gap and offer them what they need,” he explained.

Through delivering services and information to the communities, the campaign is breaking these barriers and making it easy for young people to claim their health. The campaign has been embraced in the majority of the communities. Jackson Ouma, one of the inhabitants who was contacted through the outreach, was appreciative. “We appreciate Reach A Hand Uganda for starting this campaign to our community.”. I now have condoms and a better understanding of contraception,” he said.

The campaign has not been without missteps, however. Some peer educators have faced resistance when dispensing condoms, with some residents believing that condoms encourage mistrustfulness in relationships. Despite these challenges, the campaign is still underway, emphasizing safe sex and informed decision-making. The Safe Love campaign has also encouraged close alliances with key organizations, including CEHURD, FIDA, Save the Children Wakiso, IRC, Humanity and Inclusion, and World Vision. These alliances have strengthened efforts to create safe and friendly spaces for young people, so much so that the effects of the campaign are far reaching. Healthy relationships and sound decision-making are among the most significant campaign messages.

The age of sexual debut in Uganda is 16.4 years, and there is a clear need for extensive reproductive health education. The campaign is bridging this gap by equipping youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect themselves and make responsible decisions about their sexual health. Reach A Hand Uganda’s Safe Love campaign is more than a series of events; it’s a movement to transform the way young people approach sexual and reproductive health. Through outreach in communities, peer-to-peer education, and online activity, the campaign is reaching thousands of young people and empowering them with the knowledge and services they need to live healthier, safer lives. As the campaign continues to roll out across the country, its impact is already being felt.

From affordable HIV testing to education on contraception, the Safe Love campaign is literally changing the lives of young people. By creating access and providing accurate information, Reach A Hand Uganda is bringing about a future where young people can love boldly and live securely. In a world where sexual and reproductive health remains a critical issue, initiatives like the Safe Love campaign are more essential than ever before. By empowering youth with knowledge and services, Reach A Hand Uganda not only improves individual lives but also provides a healthy impact to entire communities.

Safe Love campaign is one such exemplary model of what collective actions of communities and agencies can lead to in the context of confronting key challenges to health.

As the campaign grows, so will its message of empowerment, safety, and love, which will undoubtedly inspire even more youth to take their sexual and reproductive health into their own hands. With each outreach, each speech, and each condom distributed, Reach A Hand Uganda is helping Uganda’s youth build a brighter, healthier future.