About – JOMAS

Our History

In 2018 a group of educated, dynamic, like-minded and committed young people of different backgrounds, different religions, different gender and different faith got together
to establish an organization, for addressing the most urgent and pressing needs of their
fellow young people, women and men of Uganda as the preliminary youth advocates and
change agents in their country. True to this spirit the organization was named Joint Mechanism for Access to Social Protection (JOMAS).

Jovita Katusiime, Board Chair.

Adolescence exposes millions of young people worldwide to serious human rights abuses, especially around sexuality, marriage, and childbearing. Girls face coercion into unwanted sex and marriage, leading to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, STIs, and dangerous childbirth. Both boys and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV. Many young people are blocked from accessing accurate reproductive health information and essential services. JOMAS partners with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and youth organizations to protect adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and human rights. The organization advocates for comprehensive sex education, affordable contraceptives, quality maternal care, STI prevention, and youth-friendly health services. JOMAS presents its Strategic Plan 2022–2026 to enhance access to SRHR services and information for young people aged 12–30.

Where We Work?

Currently, we are working in Fort Portal City, Kabarole District, Bunyangabu District, Kyenjojo District, Kasese District. However, we want to scale up our service young people in the cities of Jinja, Gulu, Kabale, Mbale, Kayunga, Iganga, Mukono, Northern Uganda (Ugandan Dry corridor) and Mbarara. We target groups of young people in urban, periurban and rural communities who are still living in miserable conditions, misinformed, and deprived of very basic necessities of life

Our Target Groups

Our core target constituency that we support include: In-and Out-of-Youth in their diversity aged 10 – 24 years and these are: Young People, Young PLHIV, Young PWDs, Young Fathers, Young Mothers, Young AGYW (Adolescent girls and young women), most-at-risk at work, Young Sex Workers, Young PWUDs, AGYW at risk of commercial sexual exploitation, Young Survivors of Violence, Torture and Conflict. We work with health workers, paramedics, counselors and other staff related to health issues, teachers, students, media personnel, environmentalists and stakeholders in the field of health, sexuality education, formal and non-formal education and environment/climate change

Why our work matters?

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world — 77% of its population is under 25, with over 7.3 million young people aged 10–24. Yet young people face serious barriers to sexual and reproductive health information and services. Comprehensive HIV prevention knowledge among young people has stagnated at 45.5%. Cultural and religious norms continue to resist comprehensive sexuality education, even as teenage pregnancy, child marriage and gender-based violence remain persistent challenges. Uganda has progressive SRHR policies on paper — including the National Sexuality Education Framework — but implementation is frustrated by non-progressive attitudes and limited resources, particularly for out-of-school youth and young people with disabilities. JOMAS bridges this gap: connecting young people to information, services, legal protection, and economic opportunity, while holding government accountable to its national and international commitments

Joshua Twinomujuni, Executive Director

Uganda's poor Sexual and Reproductive Health services have resulted in high HIV, STI, teenage pregnancy, and child marriage rates, harming young people's education and wellbeing. JOMAS supports Comprehensive Sexuality Education as part of the East and Southern Africa commitments. Uganda has a school-based sexuality education framework but lacks a realistic plan for vulnerable groups and out-of-school youth. JOMAS targets the most at-risk young people, including those with disabilities and those in marginalized communities, using three key strategies. It builds networks of like-minded organizations to expand SRHR services while partnering with health, education, and government bodies. JOMAS trains young people to research, document experiences, and advocate for policy and community change. It also develops youth leadership and peer-to-peer education, empowering young people to deliver SRHR information to fellow youth, including those with disabilities.