Family Planning Services in Bwindi

This report shares an update on Conservation Through Public Health’s (CTPH) GlobalGiving project “Family Planning Services in Bwindi” (#67801). Our last report was published in January 2026, when $1,560 had been raised. As of May 2026, the project has now raised $1,601.14 the $50,000 goal.

Why This Project Matters

Families living near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) continue to face significant challenges, including poverty, large family sizes, and limited access to health services. Although Uganda has made progress in voluntary family planning uptake nationally, remote rural communities such as those around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park still face barriers related to access, information, and supply shortages.

CTPH works directly with frontline communities through its One Health and Model Household approaches to increase access to voluntary family planning services. Using trained Village Health and Conservation Teams (VHCTs), CTPH delivers household-level behaviour change communication, referrals, and community sensitization to help families make informed reproductive health decisions. This contributes not only to improved family health and wellbeing but also supports biodiversity conservation by reducing pressure on fragile forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

What Has Changed

More Families Are Choosing Voluntary Family Planning The number of households voluntarily using family planning services has steadily increased over the past four years:

• 42% in 2022

• 50% in 2023

• 51% in 2024

• 51% in 2025

• 53% in 2026

Today, approximately 5,618 households out of the 10,600 households reached through CTPH programs across 59 frontline villages around Bwindi are voluntarily using family planning services. This remains significantly above the national average and demonstrates growing community trust in CTPH’s integrated One Health approach.

How This Progress Was Achieved

CTPH continues to work through its network of 430 trained Village Health and Conservation Team (VHCT) members, more than half of whom are women. These community volunteers serve 59 villages around Bwindi and remain trusted agents of behavior change within their communities. Their work includes:

• Conducting household sensitization on voluntary family planning

• Addressing myths, misconceptions, and fears surrounding family planning methods

• Supporting uptake of community-based methods such as Sayana Press

• Referring clients to health facilities for additional reproductive health services

• Promoting male engagement and family dialogue on reproductive health decision-making Despite challenging terrain and limited health infrastructure, VHCTs continue to play a critical role in ensuring that even the most marginalized households can access reproductive health information and services.

Tackling the Biggest Challenge: Family Planning Supply Shortages

Limited and inconsistent family planning supplies remain the biggest challenge affecting communities around Bwindi, despite the growing demand and willingness among women and families to adopt voluntary family planning methods. To address this challenge, CTPH has now secured a meeting with the Executive Director of Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) to discuss and advance the long-awaited partnership aimed at strengthening access to reliable family planning supplies within frontline communities around Bwindi. This anticipated collaboration, together with support raised through the GlobalGiving campaign, is expected to improve supply consistency, strengthen referral systems, and help meet the increasing demand for voluntary family planning services across the region.

CTPH remains grateful to all GlobalGiving donors and supporters whose contributions continue to strengthen community health, improve livelihoods, and support long-term conservation outcomes around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Links:

• Visit our website for more information