October is a month to celebrate girls, as we drew close to the international day of a Girl Child, we had the opportunity to have the 4th edition of the #UniteForGirls in Namayumba Subcounty, Wakiso District under the theme Celebrate, Empower and Protect the Girl Child.
It was such a memorable and impactful day which brought together 150 pupils from Rise Up A Child primary school, Bukondo Chance school and Leah Junior school along side representatives from 15 civil society organizations, teachers, community leaders and the school administration of Raise Up A Child primary school. The event provided an opportunity to engage the pupils in conversations about their potential, aspirations and the importance of creating supportive environments where they can learn, grow and participate in shaping their futures.
We unite for Girls because they have dreams, talents and ideas that deserve to be nurtured however many girls continue to face barriers that limit their opportunities like early marriages, lack of scholaristic materials and limited spaces in which their voices can be heard. The #UniteForGirls seeks to challenge these barriers by encouraging communities to move beyond simply talking about girls’ empowerment and take a meaningful action to support girls’ rights. It also recognizes that empowering girls requires more than encouraging words but it also calls for an environment where girls have access to education, opportunities to express themselves and the freedom to imagine a future beyond the limitations they may face today.
The day began with energizing aerobics bringing the pupils together in a lively atmosphere of movement, excitement and connection. The session offered a joyful start of the day dedicated to learning, participation and celebrating the potential of young people. During the event, pupils participated in conversations, performances and poetry for example Extend Life Uganda one of the partners presented a skit which demonstrated the harmful consequences of child marriage where pupils were able to reflect on how early marriages can interrupt a girl’s education, expose her to serious risks and limit her opportunities to pursue her aspirations. The skit also presented an important reflection on the role of families and communities to protecting children from harmful practices.
The pupils from Raise Up A Child primary School presented a poem titled the voice of a teenager, through their poem the pupils called upon parents, teachers and community leaders to listen to children and guide them with understanding rather than violence. The message included Listen to us, Protect us and Guide us; this was a reminder that pupils have experiences, concerns, ideas and aspirations that deserve to be taken seriously.
The 4th edition of #UniteForGirls demonstrated the value of collaboration in advancing the rights and wellbeing of girls. The participation of different partners created an opportunity to share messages, strengthen connections and renew a collective commitment to empowering pupils where each partner shared words of encouragement to help pupils make great decisions for their future.
As the event came to close, the message from Namayumba Subcounty was clear that empowering girls requires consistent action, every girl deserves access to education, protection from child marriage and violence, opportunities for mentorship and the freedom to express herself and make informed decisions about her future. For the pupils who participated, #UniteForGirls created an opportunity to learn, share ideas, build connections and recognize that their voices matter and for the adults and organizations that were present, was a reminder that protecting and empowering girls is a shared responsibility that requires commitment even when the event ended. The 4th edition of #UniteForGirls event in Namayumba Subcounty reaffirmed that when girls are heard, protected, educated and supported the entire community stand to benefit. A girl who is given the opportunity to learn can contribute to her family and community. A girl who is protected can grow with greater confidence. A girl whose dreams are encouraged can become part of the change her community needs.
As the journey continues beyond 6th October, 2026, the call is for everyone to remain committed to creating spaces where girls are not limited by harmful practices, silenced by fear or denied opportunities because their dreams deserve investment, their voices deserve to be heard and their rights deserve protection.
When we unite for girls, we do more than celebrate their protection, we help them create conditions in which their potential can flourish transforming not only individual lives but also families, communities and future generations.
Compiled by: Atuhaire H. Lynda.
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