The Tonkwatako Campaign

About The Campaign

In the first quarter of 2023, we identified sexual harassment and exploitation as significant issues among university and secondary school students.

To address this, we launched the Tonkwatako campaign (meaning “Don’t touch my body” or “Speak up against uncomfortable sexual touches”).

This campaign aimed to raise awareness in five universities, reaching over 800 students.

The Campaign is Created

The campaign was launched on 08/03/2023 at Uganda Christian University by Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi, wife of the Vice Chancellor, who provided generous financial support.

The event was attended by 500 students from Makerere University, Uganda Christian University, Victoria University, and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). Following the launch, we organized symposiums at MUBS, initiated by
then-principal Prof. Paul Balunywa and Guild President Wasswa, along with representatives from the Ministry of Gender and 150 students.

We then held a symposium at Victoria University, facilitated by DOSA and Guild President Carter, leading to a significant increase in reporting rates from 5% to 9%.

We plan to visit more universities, including Makerere University and Kyambogo University, to advocate for bodily autonomy and empower students to speak up. We urged university administrations to establish supportive systems such as toll-free hotlines, SHEA desks, and 24/7 reporting boxes

SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVEY REPORT AMONG STUDENTS

This was a pre-survey carried out among students of Uganda Christian University who reside on both on and off-campus premises. The objectives of the survey were:

To gather information on the current state of students of Uganda Christian University in regard to sexual harassment
To design and test the survey questions and format ahead of the main survey
To estimate the resources needed for the main survey
To determine the feasibility of the main survey
To identify any potential sampling or data collection problems
To improve the accuracy of data analysis by identifying and
correcting potential biases.

Symposium at Makerere University Business School (MUBS)

Following the launch of the Tonkwatako campaign at Uganda
Christian University, we organized a pivotal symposium at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) comprised of 15,000 plus students on 31/03/2023 2023.

This event was a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat sexual harassment and exploitation among students. then-principal Prof. Paul Balunywa and Guild President Wasswa, along with representatives from the Ministry of Gender and 150 students.

Key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Gender, were present to provide expert insights and to underscore the importance of institutional support in tackling these challenges

Tonkwatako Symposium at Victoria University.

Following the impactful symposium at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Share Joy International organized another crucial symposium at Victoria University comprised of 1500 plus students on 05/05/2023.

This event was an integral part of the Tonkwatako campaign, aimed at raising awareness and tackling sexual harassment and exploitation among students.

The symposium at Victoria University was facilitated by the Dean of Students Affairs (DOSA) and Guild President Joryn Carter, showcasing the university’s commitment to addressing these significant issues.