(Entebbe, Uganda | June 16, 2025) — The Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) undertook a five-day capacity-building training in Uganda to strengthen the ability of local institutions and actors to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) across Africa.
Funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the training brought together a diverse group of participants from Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Education, Department of Social Welfare, civil society organizations, the media, the security sector, the judiciary, and faith-based institutions.
The initiative forms part of KAIPTC-WYPSI’s broader strategic efforts to advance the implementation of key continental and global frameworks, including the Maputo Protocol and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The training sought to equip participants with essential knowledge and tools to tackle GBV in Uganda and across the continent.
In her remarks at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Sylvia Horname Nustukpui, Acting Director of WYPSI, emphasized that gender-based violence remains a persistent and complex issue. “Despite the progress made through various frameworks such as CEDAW and UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820, we must reassess our strategies—particularly how we engage local actors in sensitization and advocacy efforts,” she stated.
Commissioner for Women and Gender Affairs in Uganda, Dr. Angela Nakafeero, highlighted the evolving nature of GBV in the country. “While physical violence used to be the most visible form, today we are increasingly confronted with emotional abuse, neglect, and online violence,” she explained. She added that no Ugandan is immune to GBV, as it permeates workplaces, homes, schools, and communities. “All of us are either victims, survivors, or, in some cases, perpetrators,” she cautioned.
Dr. Nakafeero also pointed out that Uganda hosts over 1.8 million refugees, a situation that exacerbates the prevalence and complexity of GBV. She urged greater coordination among ministries, departments, and agencies and called for a collective effort to challenge negative social norms and cultural practices that perpetuate violence.
Speaking on behalf of UN Women Uganda, Ms. Hadijah Nammudu, Programme Officer for Women, Peace and Security, echoed the call for continued investment in prevention and community engagement. “GBV is one of the most pervasive human rights violations affecting women and girls across all sectors. Prevention begins with knowledge, and change begins with us,” she said.
Ms. Nammudu reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to working with national and regional partners to eliminate violence against women and girls, strengthen women’s political participation, and advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She also expressed appreciation to KAIPTC for extending its work to Uganda, noting the importance of continued collaboration.
The five-day training is expected to foster cross-sectoral dialogue, enhance institutional responses, and contribute to creating safer and more inclusive societies in Uganda and beyond.
