Ugandan men are being urged to take a more proactive role in family planning, as health advocates warn that the lack of male involvement continues to hinder progress in reproductive health. For decades, the responsibility of family planning has largely fallen on women, with cultural norms often portraying men as the primary decision-makers in households, while excluding them from active participation in contraception.
In Uganda, this dynamic has meant that women bear the stigma and health risks associated with contraceptive use, while men maintain control over finances and decisions regarding family size.
To address this imbalance, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) launched the MenPlus Project in 2019, in collaboration with Reproductive Health Uganda, private clinics, and funding from the Erik E. and Edith H. Bergstrom Foundation. The initiative aims to redefine men’s roles in family planning, encouraging them not just as passive observers, but as active users, partners, and advocates.
By June 2024, MenPlus had facilitated 668 vasectomies, 870 bilateral tubal ligations, and thousands of implants, IUDs, and injectables. The project estimates that it has helped prevent 2,334 unintended pregnancies, 688 abortions, 524 unsafe abortions, and 60 maternal and child deaths.
Despite these strides, vasectomy uptake in Uganda remains extremely low—only 0.6% of the national contraceptive method mix. Advocates point to myths surrounding masculinity and sexual performance, along with limited access to trained healthcare providers in rural areas, as major barriers.
Where MenPlus has been implemented, positive changes are emerging. Peer testimonies from men who have undergone vasectomies and their partners are helping to counter misinformation and reshape attitudes. The project has also adopted creative community engagement strategies, holding discussions in sports grounds, bars, communal cleaning sessions, and even board game gatherings. “Family planning is not just a women’s issue — it is a shared responsibility,” said RAHU Senior Programs Officer Suliaman Muganza Byuma Bob.
“When men are informed and involved, outcomes improve not only for women but for families and communities,” he added.
The MenPlus team is calling for further investment to scale successful models, including transforming clinics into "centers of excellence" for vasectomy services, expanding rural healthcare provider capacity, and leveraging media platforms such as radio dramas and talk shows to sustain national dialogue.
As Uganda works toward achieving universal health coverage under Vision 2040, advocates stress the need to make male participation in family planning a national priority.
On World Contraceptive Day, RAHU’s message to men is clear: they must step forward as equal partners in family planning, communities should celebrate responsible choices, and policymakers must allocate more resources toward male-centered initiatives.