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PACE Uganda, with funding from the European Union, launches the “Breaking the Cycle” Project in Omel Sub-county, Gulu district.

A photo moment with the Resident District Commissioner, District t and the PACE Uganda team following the official launch of the EU-funded Breaking the Cycle Project during the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV in Omel Subcounty, Gulu District. On 25th November 2025, during the Gulu District commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, the Resident District Commissioner officially launched the EU-funded Breaking the Cycle: Prevention and Response to Teenage Pregnancy project, implemented by PACE Uganda, in Omel Subcounty. Launching the project directly in the community demonstrated strong local ownership and ensured that those most affected are centred in designing and driving solutions. The project’s core objective is to provide comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services to adolescent girls and support their reintegration into both formal and informal education pathways. By ensuring that girls access accurate information, youth-friendly services, and learning opportunities, the project aims to reduce vulnerability and prevent early pregnancy. At the launch, youth group Ripe Be presented a drama on the theme “End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” demonstrating the power of youth voices in community awareness. Figure: Ripe Be peer group under EU project performs a drama on “End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” at Omel Pageya Primary School The project also integrates male engagement activities to encourage supportive behaviours and improve community attitudes toward girls’ health, education, and safety. With European Union support, PACE Uganda continues to strengthen community-led solutions to ensure that adolescent girls in the Acholi Sub-region are healthier, safer, and able to return to school.

RIBBE AYE TEKO: Unity Is Strength.

Testimonials / By Donna Nantege

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.

Pace Uganda 2024 Annual Report Summary

Uncategorized / By Donna Nantege

As we reflect on how we, as an organization, can do more, we cannot forget our past achievements. We navigated both challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing global landscape but still managed to achieve significant milestones across key sectors, including HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Maternal and Child Health, Immunization, Malaria, WASH, and Non-communicable Diseases (NCDS), reaching 94 districts in 2024 alone. “The Programme for Accessible Health Communication and Education (PACE)remains distinguished by its people-centered approach, grounded in Obuntubulamu values, honesty, empathy, responsibility, integrity, and humility,” said our Patron, The Queen of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata. The PACE team remained steadfast in upholding our core values: Recognition and Reward, Innovation and Creativity, Open Communication and Teamwork, Speed and Efficiency, Transparency and Accountability. In 2024, PACE reached 1,888,700 individuals with health services and implemented eight projects. We completed four impactful initiatives, such as the Differentiated Condom Demand Generation and Last-Mile Distribution Initiative, Social and Behavioral Change Campaign for IG2 nets, Long Lasting Net durability monitoring, and addressing ICCM commodity stockouts in Uganda. As a result of this: We are grateful for the support of donors and partners that have supported us over the years: PMI/USAID, BASF, The Global Fund/MOH, PATH, AMF, VisionSpring, and others, and extend special thanks to the Ministry of Health, local governments, and community resource persons for their invaluable contributions to our work. Together, we have made a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Despite global and national funding constraints for health, PACE has adapted its strategies to sustain service delivery. As Leaders in Solutions for the Health Market, we look forward to championing change and creating solutions that influence positive changes in our community and intend to expand into climate change, positioning PACE as a key partner in building climate-resilient health systems in line with our emerging donor priorities. The Health projects PACE Uganda worked on can be found here: