Africa-Press – Uganda. MTN Uganda has officially partnered with Busoga Kingdom in the fight against teenage pregnancies, lending corporate muscle to the Kingdom’s “Men Are the Pillar” campaign (Abasadha n’empango), a community-driven initiative championed by Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV.
The partnership was sealed on Tuesday during a high-level visit to Igenge Palace by a delegation from MTN Uganda led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge.
The campaign targets behavioral change among men and boys, positioning them as protectors and mentors in a society grappling with high rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage.
Mulinge expressed MTN’s commitment to working alongside the Kingdom to address deep-rooted social issues, congratulating the Kyabazinga on his recent appointment as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on adolescent health.
“This is the first time I am wearing a gomesi—I reserved it for this special moment. We are proud to stand with Busoga Kingdom in empowering the girl child and addressing social challenges through education, sports, and technology,” Mulinge said.
“A socially empowered and healthy community guarantees a sustainable future for all of us.”
The Kyabazinga welcomed the partnership, noting MTN Uganda’s consistent support to the Kingdom over the past seven years through initiatives such as the Masaza Cup, Busoga Bicycle Races, and last year’s Royal Wedding.
“We’ve walked together for seven years. Let’s go even further,” the monarch said, urging Basoga to “massively support MTN” for standing with the Kingdom in addressing critical issues facing the region.
The visit was marked by a symbolic exchange of gifts. The Kingdom presented a plaque of appreciation and portraits of the King and Queen to MTN Uganda.
In return, the telecom gifted the royal couple and Prime Ministers with new smartphones, reinforcing the Kingdom’s digital connectivity agenda.
Second Deputy Katukiiro Alhaji Osman Noor, who also heads the Kingdom’s partnerships docket, described MTN’s entry into the campaign as a “pivotal milestone” in expanding community outreach and building momentum around prevention and education efforts.
“This partnership strengthens our capacity to reach more youth with awareness and life-skills programmes. It’s a game changer,” Noor said.
The “Men Are the Pillar” campaign underscores the importance of male engagement in reversing Uganda’s growing teenage pregnancy crisis.
Through mentorship, advocacy, and community dialogues, the initiative aims to transform attitudes, protect girls, and restore opportunities lost to early motherhood.
MTN now joins a growing coalition of actors backing the Kingdom’s efforts, including the United Nations Children’s Fund, which earlier this year formalized its partnership with Busoga to support adolescent girls’ education and reduce school dropouts.
MTN’s involvement further solidifies its profile not just as a telecom provider, but as a development partner investing in the social fabric of the communities it serves.
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