The Nnaabagereka of Buganda Kingdom, Her Royal Highness Sylvia Nagginda Luswata, has urged the Central government to strengthen its collaboration with both cultural and religious leaders in promoting safe motherhood practices as a means of preventing the deaths of mothers and babies.
She made the remarks while officiating at the opening ceremony of the three-day 5th National Safe Motherhood Conference, held from 22nd to 24th October 2025 at Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo.
The conference, held under the theme “Strengthening Multi-Sectoral Collaboration and Mutual Accountability for Safe Motherhood,” brought together over 1,000 delegates to discuss the achievements, challenges, and way forward for the country’s safe motherhood agenda.
The Nnaabagereka, who also launched the Ministry of Health’s Safe Motherhood Policy Guidelines, emphasized that it is the government’s role to engage key stakeholders—including cultural and religious leaders—in disseminating accurate and coordinated safe motherhood messages to the public.
She noted that such messages can effectively reach communities and help prevent unnecessary deaths of both newborns and mothers.
Her Royal Highness also pledged her kingdom’s commitment to continue working with the Ministry of Health, development partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that girls are sensitized about the dangers of early sexual activity, which often leads to unwanted pregnancies and, in severe cases, death.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng, who was represented by the ministry’s Undersecretary, said the government is working with all stakeholders to empower communities with the right knowledge about safe motherhood practices to prevent loss of life.
Other high-level speakers included the Danish Ambassador to Uganda, Signe Winding Albjerg, the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Kasonde Mwinga, the Development Director at the British High Commission, Dr. Philip Smith, the UNFPA Country Representative, Kristine Blokhus, and the Chairperson of the Health Service Commission, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, among others.
They all collectively called on the government to build the capacity of stakeholders in driving the safe motherhood agenda to ensure that no life is lost.
