By Herbert Ssempogo

A 16-year-old boy from Ayul village in Kitgum won last year’s Poster campaign organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Francis Oryema’s entry was a drawing of a man taking his child to school. The picture impressed the panelists from Makerere, Kyambogo and Gulu universities, the Straight Talk Foundation and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and social development.

“By using a girl, the poster gave a message that girl-child education is a contribution to women’s empowerment,” read a statement from the fund.

The campaign was set up as a platform for children to voice issues that affect child and women development, it was open to youth in 22 districts across the country.

Emmanuel Mutambi, the leader of the panel said: “Through the father figure, Francis presented the type of male model that the country needs to encourage girls and women to achieve their potential and contribute to development.”

Mary Consolata, a 12-year-old juvenile from Anaka, Amuru district, was the first runner up. She was the only female among the 12 finalists.
Anaka’s drawing was of a man escorting his pregnant wife to a clinic for antenatal services.

A senior lecturer at Makerere University, Dr. George Kyeyune, observed that the girl under-scored the role of a husband in ensuring that a woman receives care during pregnancy.

The second runner up was Francis Komakech from Lamit North. He drew a mother carrying her baby on the back while taking her daughter to school.

“The picture shows the mother’s determination to take her daughter to school and there is a touch of care for her baby in the way she holds her like she is guiding her to the future,” Rose Basuuta, a peer educator at Naguru Teenage Centre in Kampala, said.

According to UNFPA, the contest got more submissions from adolescents between 13-18 years old, with boys submitting more entries than girls. A total of 600 entries were collected.

The statement added that all the pictures would be used to make a publication that recognises the participation of the youth in the contest.