Uganda has joined the global campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, this year rallying behind the theme “Reimagining feminist future, rising in solidarity, thriving out of crisis.”
The event, held on 24th November, 2025, featured a march from Makerere University’s main gate to the rugby grounds, followed by speeches, music, comedy performances, and a video preview of *Change Makers*; a series profiling 16 men championing positive masculinity and action against abuse.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, a university representative reaffirmed Makerere’s commitment to a campus free from violence.
“Gender-based violence is a scourge that affects us all, and together, we must work towards its prevention,” he said.
UNFPA Country Representative Kristine Blokus noted the long-running nature of the campaign and called for greater involvement of men and boys.
“Men, we need your help. Your leadership shows young men everywhere that strength is not about dominance but about dignity,” Blokus said.
According to UN Resident Coordinator Leonard Zulu, addressing GBV is a shared responsibility which requires active engagement from all parts of society.
“Gender equality is everybody’s business. When men and women rise together, equality becomes inevitable,” he noted.
Swedish Ambassador Maria Håkansson described gender-based violence as a persistent global crisis, noting that one in three women experiences abuse, with digital violence rising sharply.
She said achieving equality requires not only laws but a shift in social norms supported by male allies.
Dutch Ambassador Frederieke Quispel attributed the origins of the “Change Makers” initiative, to the realization that lasting progress requires men to be directly involved.
“You don’t have to champion for us. You just have to be our plus one,” Amb Quispel remarked.
Makerere’s Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Director, Dr Euzobia M. Mugisha Baine, thanked the campaign partners and reaffirmed the institution’s pledge to ensure a safe learning environment.
She encouraged participants to reflect on the messages shared and contribute to lasting change.
This year’s launch blends advocacy with creative messaging, with each of the 16 selected “change makers” committing to daily public pledges aimed at sparking nationwide conversation through Human Rights Day on December 10.
