Gov’t unveils national framework to equip young people with health and life skills
The framework is scheduled to be officially launched this Wednesday at the Conference Hall, Office of the President in Kampala
KAMPALA, October 26, 2026 – The Government of Uganda has unveiled a National Framework for Education on Health and Life Skills aimed at equipping Ugandan children and young people with practical knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, protect their health and navigate challenges associated with growing up.
The framework, developed by the Ministry of Education and Sports in collaboration with other government agencies and stakeholders, seeks to promote responsible behaviour, strengthen resilience and prepare young people for productive adulthood.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday at the Uganda Media Centre, Cleophus Mugenyi, the Chief Education Officer in charge of Education Administration and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the initiative represents a strategic investment in Uganda’s future.
“We stand at a defining moment for our nation. As we gather here today to present the National Framework for Education on Health and Life Skills, we are not merely launching a policy document. We are making a strategic, high-stakes investment in the future of Uganda,” Mugenyi said.
He said the framework responds to the country’s youthful population, which presents enormous opportunities for economic transformation but also requires deliberate investment in health education, personal development and responsible citizenship.
According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, Uganda’s population stands at approximately 45.9 million, with about half of its citizens below the age of 18.
Mugenyi said the country’s youthful population could become a major driver of socio-economic transformation under Uganda Vision 2040 if young people are equipped with appropriate knowledge and practical skills.
“However, for this engine to run, it requires fuel—not just academic knowledge, but the health literacy, resilience, and life skills necessary to navigate a complex world full of risks, temptations, and opportunities,” he said.
He explained that life skills encompass practical abilities that enable young people to manage everyday challenges, develop resilience and make a successful transition into responsible adulthood.
The framework comprises five key modules: Growth and Human Development; Relationships; Life Skills and Keeping Safe; Health and Wellbeing; and Responsible Citizenship.
These modules have been broken down into learning units, outcomes, practical skills and values tailored to five age categories: three to five years, six to nine years, 10 to 12 years, 13 to 16 years, and those aged 17 years and above.
Mugenyi said the framework adopts a preventive approach that encourages young people to avoid risky behaviour while providing risk-reduction interventions for those already exposed to harmful situations.
“The philosophy in this Framework is that we are using a risk-avoidance approach for prevention and risk-reduction as a mitigation strategy for those already at risk in order to promote responsible-living by our young people,” he said.
He added that the emphasis on family involvement, risk avoidance, risk reduction and locally relevant approaches distinguishes the framework from other health and life skills education interventions.
According to Mugenyi, government considers health and life skills education an essential component of national development rather than an optional addition to conventional classroom learning.
He said young people require more than academic qualifications to overcome social and economic challenges, safeguard their wellbeing and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Multi-sectoral implementation
Mugenyi said the development of the framework involved several government institutions, religious organisations and non-state actors, reflecting the need for a coordinated national response to challenges affecting young people.
The participating institutions include the Office of the First Lady, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, Uganda AIDS Commission and Inter-Religious Council of Uganda [IRCU], among other stakeholders.
He said the institutions would continue working together during implementation to ensure that health and life skills education reaches young people both within and outside the formal education system.
“The challenges of health and life skills cannot be solved by the Ministry of Education and Sports alone,” Mugenyi said.
He called upon the media, parents, schools, communities, cultural institutions and religious leaders to support the implementation of the framework by promoting awareness and encouraging young people to adopt responsible lifestyles.
Mugenyi particularly urged media organisations to help communicate the framework’s objectives and benefits to different sections of society.
He said effective communication would be critical in ensuring that young people and their parents understand the importance of health literacy, personal responsibility and practical life skills.
The framework is also expected to provide young people with knowledge to protect their health, develop confidence in decision-making and acquire skills that can support their livelihoods.
Rev. Token Wejuli of the Inter Religious Council of Uganda said it has been a long journey for Uganda to come up with the framework expected to boost education in Uganda.
He said the framework is based on Ugandan values and that it is religious and culturally friendly. “He [Mugenyi] talked of collaboration. “It [framework] is for formal, non-formal and informal education. All the stakeholders who participated and who did not participate, we are all beneficiaries of this national framework,” Wejuli said.
Meanwhile, Mugenyi emphasised that the success of the initiative would depend on sustained cooperation among government institutions, development partners, families and communities.
He thanked the institutions and organisations that participated in developing the framework and appealed for continued collaboration as the government prepares to roll out its implementation.
“The task ahead is great, but the cost of inaction is even greater,” he said.
The framework is scheduled to be officially launched this Wednesday at the Conference Hall, Office of the President in Kampala.
The launch will mark the beginning of the implementation phase of the national initiative, which seeks to strengthen health awareness, responsible behaviour and life skills development among Uganda’s young population.
https://thecooperator.news/uganda-urged-to-expand-health-education-services-exports/
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