By Mike Rwothomio 

The Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW), a national human rights feminist organization established in 2008, continues its mission to empower adolescent girls and young women aged 14-29 to combat violence and promote gender equality.

Operating in Uganda’s West Nile region, including Zombo District, MEMPROW is making significant strides in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) through community-driven interventions like the SASA! Together program.

Speaking during the engagement at Daudi Courts on August 15, 2025 , Sunday Kayom from MEMPRO, delved into detailed findings that captures shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around VAW, emphasizing community-led action.

A recent community assessment report highlights the organization’s impact, revealing shifting attitudes and growing collective action against violence against women (VAW).

MEMPROW’s vision is to foster a dynamic, feminist-driven movement that builds young women’s agency for an inclusive, violence-free society. The organization focuses on addressing VAW, promoting sexual and reproductive health rights, challenging patriarchal norms, and empowering young women to expand their aspirations and exercise choice. 

With over 15 years of impactful work, MEMPROW has trained community leaders, established referral pathways, and engaged in initiatives like SASA! Together to reshape societal attitudes toward gender equity.

In Zombo District, MEMPROW’s work is transforming communities like Otheko parish in Paidha Sub-county, where its programs empower survivors and foster community-led solutions.

Speaking during a stakeholders engagement organized by MEMPROW at Daudi Courts on August 15, Beneficiaries like Fiona Kwiocwiny, a child mother from Paidha Sub-county in Zombo District, exemplify the organization’s impact.

Stakeholders During the engagement at Daudi Courts on August 15, 2025.

Enrolled in MEMPROW’s programs after becoming pregnant at 15 in 2022, Fiona credits the organization with helping her start a business and achieve self-reliance, stating, “MEMPROW transformed my life.”

Kwiocwiny is amongst the many child mothers who went through battery of challenges including abuse, lack of parental responsibility amongst others.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a critical issue in Uganda. According to the 2020 National Survey on Violence Against Women and Girls, conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) with support from UN Women, 95% of Ugandan women and girls have experienced physical or sexual violence since age 15. Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 56% of married women aged 15-49, with 36% reporting sexual violence. Alarmingly, 72% of these incidents go unreported, underscoring barriers to help-seeking and justice.

SASA! Together in Zombo: From Awareness to Support

MEMPROW’s implementation of the SASA! Together program in Zombo District is driving change.

The initiative’s recent Community Assessment Report (June 2025), marking the transition from the Awareness to Support phase, surveyed communities in Otheko parish, Paidha Sub-county.

Speaking during the engagement, Sunday Kayom from MEMPRO, delved into detailed findings that captures shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around VAW, emphasizing community-led action.

Fiona Kwiocwiny is amongst the many child mothers who went through battery of challenges including abuse, lack of parental responsibility amongst others but her life changed following MEMPROW's intervention.

According to Kayom , Of the respondents, 51.67% were female, 48.33% male, with 63.33% married. Notably, 49.44% had no formal education, with women disproportionately affected (43.33% vs. 6.11% for men), reflecting systemic barriers that increase vulnerability to GBV

"'90% of respondents reject men controlling their wives’ movements, and 92% believe men can stop using violence" adding that, " 41% do not fully recognize power imbalances as the root cause of VAW, indicating a need for deeper engagement

On Gender Norms, the report indicates 92.22% support mutual consent in sexual relationships, but 24.44% believe women should tolerate violence to preserve family stability, revealing persistent social pressures. Additionally, Only 62.22% support a woman’s right to request condom use, highlighting taboos around sexual autonomy.

Kayom also revealed that " 96.67% view VAW as a serious community issue, and 92.22% believe preventing it is everyone’s responsibility. 80.56% feel personally empowered to effect change, and 98.33% believe women feel safe reporting violence, though only 57.22% see women as having agency in sexual decision-making"

The baseline survey also indicated that 87.78% of respondents observed SASA! Together activities, with 83.33% participating in community conversations or dramas and 83.33% believe the initiative is making communities safer for women.

MEMPROW’s Role in Zombo: Community-Led Transformation

At the stakeholders’ meeting , MEMPROW’s Sunday Kayom presented the SASA! Together assessment, highlighting its impact in Otheko parish. Initiatives include training local leaders on human rights and gender, establishing referral pathways, and engaging communities through SASA! Together’s community conversations and dramas.

These efforts she said have fostered collective accountability, with 91.11% of respondents supporting women’s decision-making in marriage and 81.11% feeling safe discussing VAW publicly.

Local leaders have praised MEMPROW’s work

Zombo’s District Police Commander, SP Denis Kamugisha, commended the initiative for addressing high GBV rates, urging local leaders to take responsibility.

Kakura Emmy Kizito, executive director of Life Concern, called for intensified collaboration among civil society organizations, police, and church leaders to tackle GBV and school dropouts.

Assistant Resident District Commissioner Bruno Mananu affirmed the government’s commitment to ending VAW, emphasizing the need for collective action.

Recommendations for Sustained Impact

The SASA! Together report recommends:

Using oral, visual, and local-language tools to reach those with limited education.

Strengthening dialogues on consent and sexual autonomy, particularly in marriage, through survivor narratives and cultural framing.

Building partnerships with schools, health centers, and religious groups to expand outreach.

Addressing myths, such as women’s duty to endure violence, through community-led storytelling and engagement with cultural leaders.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information