By Aggrey Baba
The Office of the First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni has backed a prevention-first approach to health and life skills education, arguing that Ugandan children should be equipped with values and practical knowledge to make responsible decisions before they encounter health and social risks.
The position forms part of the National Framework for Education on Health and Life Skills, a government initiative developed since March 2025 through collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Sports and several other institutions, and it’s scheduled for official launch on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at the Conference Hall in the Office of the President.
Madam Beat Bisangwa, representing the Office of the First Lady, said the initiative was designed to prepare young people to lead healthy lives by addressing their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development, as well as their relationships.
At the Media Centre on Monday, she argued that health education should begin by equipping children with values and life skills rather than starting with measures intended to mitigate risks after they arise.
“We want to equip these young people with values and skills to help them make appropriate decisions, life decisions for wholesome health,” Bisangwa said.
Bisangwa cited contraception and condom use as examples of mitigation measures, saying the framework prioritises teaching young people how to make responsible decisions and lead healthy lives.
“So we cannot start by mitigation because I believe contraception, condom use, whatever, is mitigation. So we do not want to start there. We want to start with first things first,” she said.
She expressed hope that children who receive comprehensive guidance would be better positioned to make informed choices as they grow into adulthood.
“Where does a child begin to learn how to live wholesome lives? What values, what life skills does this child need?” Bisangwa asked, explaining the thinking behind the framework.
The Office of the First Lady has worked closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports throughout the development of the framework.
Bisangwa commended First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni for spearheading the initiative and supporting the establishment of a steering committee that brought together stakeholders from different sectors.
She said the collaboration was intended to overcome fragmented interventions by ensuring that participating institutions work under one overarching framework while respecting their respective mandates.
The framework covers five areas, including growth and human development, relationships, life skills and keeping safe, health and well-being, and responsible citizenship.
It targets children from early childhood through adolescence and into young adulthood, with provision for both school-going and out-of-school populations.
The Ministry of Education and Sports, also headed by Janet Kataaha Museveni, has said the framework is intended to help young people navigate everyday challenges and become responsible citizens.
Its implementation will involve government ministries, religious institutions, schools, parents and community stakeholders.
