Have you ever wondered how empowerment, mentorship, and male engagement can transform a young person’s life?
Meet Alunga Gaius.
Alunga Gaius is a 19-year-old from Parak Parish in Akidi Sub-County, Omoro District. Coming from a large family of twelve, Gaius was the sixth of ten children. His education was cut short when he dropped out after Primary Seven due to financial hardship, preventing him from continuing to secondary school.
When a Health Assistant mobilized adolescents to form peer groups under the EU-Funded project: Breaking the Cycle, Gaius joined because he saw an opportunity to learn and grow.
His commitment and enthusiasm led to his election as the leader of the boys’ group, Rine en Teko.
He later participated in a five-day training organized by PACE Uganda with funding from the European Union, where he gained knowledge about Sexual and Reproductive health, life skills, teenage pregnancy prevention, and the challenges adolescents face. Initially shy and unsure of himself, Gaius gradually gained confidence and began actively engaging with other peer leaders within the sub-counties.
The baseline survey conducted by PACE under the Breaking The Cycle project in May 2025 revealed multiple challenges in addressing teenage pregnancy in Omoro District. Stakeholders highlighted deep-rooted structural and social barriers ranging from poor service reach to harmful community attitudes that continue to undermine early prevention and reintegration efforts for adolescent girls.
One key challenge identified was low male engagement: most programs focus on girls, leaving boys uninformed or disengaged from prevention strategies.
Alunga Gaius exemplifies how these gaps in adolescent health programs can be addressed.
“Through this training, I have become more knowledgeable about adolescent health and how to guide my peers,” Gaius shares. “People in my community now see me as a teacher for young people. I work closely with the Village Health Teams and always encourage adolescents to make informed decisions.”
Today, Gaius is a respected youth leader who educates boys and girls alike on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.
In Acholi, they say Ribbe Aye Teko, which, when translated, means “Unity is Strength.” This perfectly captures the spirit of what male engagement can do in addressing the high levels of Teenage Pregnancy in the Acholi sub-region. Alone, one voice may struggle to create any change, but together, their collective strength becomes power.
Power to challenge norms, support one another, and build communities where every boy can lead with purpose.
Signatories:
Compiled By: Muhindo Maureen, SRHO
Edited by: Angel Nantege Donna, Communications.