The National Project Officer for UNESCO Uganda Teddy Chimulwa urged the government to invest more in creative platforms that empower young people to voice their concerns about sexual and reproductive health.
She highlighted the need for financial and technical support to ensure the stories about sexual education aired on those platforms reach the widest audience possible.
“These stories are not just entertainment, but also tools for advocacy which will reach policymakers, community leaders, and ordinary citizens to raise awareness and encourage action on SRHR issues that affect Africa and Uganda in particular,” Chimulwa said.
She made the remarks at an event where Reach A Hand Uganda and Sauti Plus Media Hub were premiering a collection of eight powerful short films focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Justice (SRHRJ) in East Africa.
The films showcased included Unasemaje (fiction), Unyagoni (documentary), Before Sixteen (documentary), Detour (fiction), Jimbi (fiction), Sukari (fiction), 1992 (fiction), and Red Line (documentary).
Ivan Tusabe, who directed Jimbi said , “As a filmmaker, you want to create something meaningful. My film addresses sexual violence in our communities, and the message is clear: it starts with us. If you witness something happening, step in and help. Tackling these issues as a community is far more effective than addressing them individually.”
Sheila Kasabiiti the Programs Manager at Reach A Hand Uganda explained the power of visual storytelling in sensitizing the public about sexual education.
“Film is a powerful tool for shifting narratives and encouraging audiences to seek justice.We have seen young people face these issues in silence because they are unaware of the laws that protect them. These films show young people that they don’t need to suffer in silence, and it’s a message that needs widespread support”,Kasabiiti noted
Meanwhile the fiction and documentary films are part of the Get Reel project – which is facilitated by Docubox, an East African Documentary film organisation dedicated to amplifying voices and fostering social change with support from the Hewlett Foundation and the Wellsprings Philanthropic Fund.
