From March 11–13, a delegation from the European Union joined Enabel on a field mission to Busoga to see, first-hand, how development programmes are making a difference in communities. Across Jinja and Bugiri, the visit brought together different strands of Enabel’s work in education, health, skilling, and human rights, each offering a glimpse into how people are being supported to build better futures.

Empowering Young People Through Education
At Busede Secondary School, the delegation saw how education is becoming more practical and relevant. Teachers demonstrated more interactive, learner-centred approaches that are improving the quality of teaching. Beyond the classroom, students confidently shared practical skills gained from life skills training; preparing them for life after school. In Busede alone, over 300 students have benefited from life skills training, contributing to more than 10,000 learners reached across Uganda. Through the WeLearn/WeTeach project, 1,000 fellowships have also been provided to learners at risk of dropping out due to financial challenges. So far, 493 of these students have successfully completed Senior Four.

Reducing Maternal Deaths, One Step at a Time
At Mpumudde Health Centre IV in Jinja, one of the facilities supported under the WeCare project, the delegation engaged with health workers and mothers to understand how services are being delivered. Our efforts focus on addressing the three delays in maternal care: deciding to seek care, reaching a facility, and receiving quality treatment.

To tackle the first delay, through Saving for Health groups, we have helped communities mobilise over UGX 2 billion for health emergencies, including more than UGX 300 million saved by 886 expectant mothers. To improve access to care, Enabel’s partnership with Babies and Mothers Alive is helping connect mothers to timely information and emergency transport. So far, over 15,000 expectant mothers have been supported with transport through the Mama Rescue App. At the facility level, improvements are also visible. Across Busoga and Rwenzori, more than 100 health workers and 90 ambulance drivers have been trained, 11 newborn care units established, and 1,000 units of blood collected for emergencies.

Ensuring Communities Have a Voice
In Bugiri, the Business and Human Rights project demonstrated how human rights principles are being put into practice. With the Makuutu Rare Earth mining project taking shape, Enabel, alongside partners like African Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP), is facilitating dialogue between communities, local leaders, civil society, and private sector actors. These discussions are supporting the development of Community Development Agreements (CDAs), helping ensure fair compensation, proper resettlement of Project Affected Persons, and shared benefits through jobs and community services.

Creating Sustainable Livelihoods
The final part of the visit focused on a key question for many young people: how to turn skills into income. Through the WeWork–HortiMarket Dynamics project, implemented by Swisscontact, the delegation visited initiatives strengthening horticulture value chains in Busoga. They met young people who are not only receiving training, but are already connected to markets. The project is supporting 1,800 disadvantaged youth, women, and persons with disabilities with access to skills, quality inputs, and market opportunities.

A highlight was the visit to Trafford Export Commodities, where a youth-led aggregation hub model is being piloted across Jinja and Kamuli. Here, young people are working together to supply products (tomatoes, onions, watermelon, cabbage, and chill) to markets in a more organised and profitable way. By the end of the visit, one thing was clear: the real impact of these programmes is best understood through the people behind them. A student gaining skills and confidence, a young woman, later a mother, able to access timely care and a community shaping decisions that affect its future and a young entrepreneur building a livelihood.

All these are not separate stories but are part of the same journey. Across Busoga, Enabel’s programmes are working in a connected way, linking education, health, livelihoods, and human rights to support young people at different stages of life. With support from the European Union, this integrated approach is helping move beyond individual projects towards lasting impact where people are empowered to thrive within stronger systems and communities.

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