In the last week of September 2026, a powerful journey of reflection, learning and community mobilisation unfolded across Uganda. FAWE Uganda conducted exchange learning visits and community mobilisation activities in Rwamwanja (Kamwenge District) and Adjumani District, ahead of the GPE KIX TUSEME endline evaluation. The visits represented a critical moment to take stock of progress, celebrate achievements and prepare for the next phase of the project’s journey.
At Ntenungi, Rwamwanja SS, Agyirapi and Pagirinya SS, learners, teachers, TUSEME club patrons and school leaders shared what had worked and the changes the project had brought. The conversations were rich with insight and testimony, as those closest to the project reflected on its impact and its meaning in their lives.
Learners spoke confidently about how TUSEME helped them speak out, solve problems together and stand up for their rights at school and at home. Their voices carried the unmistakable ring of authenticity and empowerment. They described how the TUSEME clubs had given them a space to express themselves, to develop leadership skills and to support one another. They spoke of the challenges they had overcome and the confidence they had gained. And they articulated a vision for their futures that was grounded in the skills, knowledge and self-belief that the project had nurtured.
Teachers and TUSEME club patrons also shared their perspectives, describing the transformations they had witnessed in their students and the ways in which the project had enriched their own practice. School leaders reflected on the changes the project had brought to their institutions, from improved student engagement to a more inclusive and supportive school culture. Together, these voices painted a comprehensive picture of a project that was making a real and lasting difference.
The FAWE Uganda team also paid courtesy calls on the LC3 of Agyirapi, the District Education Officers and the Office of the Prime Minister in both districts. These engagements were essential to acknowledging and strengthening the partnerships that had been central to the project’s success. The support of local leaders and government officials had been instrumental in enabling FAWE Uganda to work effectively in refugee and host communities, and their continued engagement would help ensure smooth endline data collection.
The courtesy calls also provided an opportunity to share the progress and achievements of the TUSEME project with key stakeholders and to discuss the way forward. The district leaders expressed their appreciation for the work that FAWE Uganda had undertaken and their commitment to continuing to support initiatives that advanced education and empowerment for young people in their communities.
The exchange learning visits served multiple purposes. They allowed FAWE Uganda to gather valuable feedback from project participants, which would inform the endline evaluation and help ensure that the findings were grounded in the lived experiences of those most affected by the project. They provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with schools and communities, reinforcing the collaborative approach that had been at the heart of the project from its inception. And they energised all involved for the work that lay ahead.
As the visits concluded, FAWE Uganda extended its sincere gratitude to every learner, teacher, parent and leader who had been part of this journey. Their commitment, dedication and openness had made the project possible and had helped create schools where every girl and boy could learn, speak and thrive. The TUSEME project had demonstrated that when young people were given the tools, the space and the support to find their voices, they could become powerful agents of change in their own lives and in their communities.