Outcome UGA_D_3.1

By 2025, people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, have equitable access to and utilization of quality basic social and protection services.

There has been an increase in social protection coverage through government programmes such as the recently rolled out Parish Development Model (PDM) with a target focus on women and youth. Through UN Women support in 2024, more women (1,015) received justice after experiencing sexual violence compared to 224 women in 2022 and 1,015 in 2023. Access to protection services such as mental health and pychosocial support, medical support and access to justice is gradually increasing. The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2022, noted that 32% of women and 31% of men who have ever experienced any physical or sexual violence sought help to stop the violence, compared to 33% of women and 30% of men in 2016.

By 2025, people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, have equitable access to and utilization of quality basic social and protection services.

In 2025, progress was made toward ensuring that vulnerable and marginalised populations in Uganda, including women and girls, older persons, survivors of violence, refugees, and low-income households, had more equitable access to and utilization of quality basic social and protection services. UN Women’s integrated approach, which combined service delivery support, psychosocial care, access to justice, and community-level norm change, ensured that vulnerable and marginalized groups not only accessed services but did so with improved quality, reduced stigma, and strengthened institutional support. Progress was observed in the following aspects: UN Women’s contribution was most visible in improving access to justice, protection, and psychosocial services for women and girls. A total of 12,681 individuals accessed protection services across development and humanitarian settings, including 7,547 women and girls who benefited from legal aid, psychosocial support, referrals, and alternative dispute resolution. Through partnerships with the Uganda Law Society, Justice Centres Uganda, and FIDA Uganda, 11,611 people accessed justice services—strengthening the capacity of marginalized groups, especially survivors of GBV, to seek redress and assert their rights. In humanitarian settlements, 1,050 women accessed mental health and psychosocial support, 236 refugees received legal aid, and 240 women and girls received multipurpose cash assistance, improving emotional well-being, resilience, and economic stability for displaced and highly vulnerable groups. UN Women’s contribution was most visible in improving access to justice, protection, and psychosocial services for women and girls. A total of 12,681 individuals accessed protection services across development and humanitarian settings, including 7,547 women and girls who benefited from legal aid, psychosocial support, referrals, and alternative dispute resolution. Through partnerships with the Uganda Law Society, Justice Centres Uganda, and FIDA Uganda, 11,611 people accessed justice services—strengthening the capacity of marginalized groups, especially survivors of GBV, to seek redress and assert their rights. In humanitarian settlements, 1,050 women accessed mental health and psychosocial support, 236 refugees received legal aid, and 240 women and girls received multipurpose cash assistance, improving emotional well-being, resilience, and economic stability for displaced and highly vulnerable groups. National-level data from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2022) indicates declining social tolerance for GBV, with 81% of GBV indicators improving, demonstrating a conducive environment for survivors to seek support without stigma. More women reported joint decision-making in households, and harmful social norms—such as justification of wife-beating—declined. These shifts contributed to increased service utilization by survivors, despite the overall decline in formal service access recorded in the annual crime report. The analysis of sexual violence trends further underscored the importance of these services, with 11% of women and 4% of men reporting sexual violence in the 12 months preceding the survey. Given that 66% of ever-married women who experienced sexual violence identified current partners as perpetrators, the availability of accessible, survivor-centred justice and psychosocial services was essential in safeguarding rights and supporting recovery.

By 2025, people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, have equitable access to and utilization of quality basic social and protection services.

Only 5% of Uganda’s population are covered by social insurance schemes, 3% by health insurance, and less than 1% receive direct income support. In addition, only 11% of the workforce is covered by formal pension arrangements