Leesu Film Festival amplifies young women’s voices on International Women’s Day

• Reach A Hand Uganda hosted the Leesu Film Festival to amplify young women’s voices through film.
• Six short films highlighted real-life challenges faced by adolescent girls, including gender-based violence and SRHR issues.
• The event also launched the “Empowering Her Choice” campaign to improve access to reproductive health products.

As Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate International Women’s Day, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) used the moment to highlight the voices and lived experiences of young women across the country.

On March 7, 2026, the youth-focused organization hosted the Leesu Film Festival at its headquarters in Lungujja, Kampala. The event, held under the Leesu Fempower Initiative, brought together young filmmakers, advocates, and partners to showcase films created by young women addressing the challenges adolescent girls face, particularly around Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

The festival served as a platform for young female storytellers to share real-life experiences through film. Each story reflected the struggles many girls face in their communities while also encouraging conversations about change.

Six short films were screened during the event. They included Village of Echoes by Nadia Mwebe, Dissolved in Sweets by Sandra Agricola, Still Standing by Driberayo Constance, The Get Away by Karungi Sheila, When It’s Me by Joy Athieno, and Chains of His Voice by Nabawanga Olivia.

Among them, The Get Away and Dissolved in Sweets stood out for their compelling storytelling and powerful messages.

Dissolved in Sweets explores the dark reality hidden within the sugarcane fields of Kamuli District in Busoga. While the fields appear ordinary—a place where children snack on sugarcane, boda boda riders rest, and farmers earn a living—the film reveals the dangers that sometimes lurk beneath the surface.

Producer Sandra Agricola explained that the story is deeply personal.

“This is a real-life story of one of my relatives who was raped in the sugarcane,” she shared.

Meanwhile, The Get Away follows a group of friends whose weekend reunion takes an unexpected turn. What begins as a night filled with laughter and nostalgia gradually reveals long-buried secrets. As the night unfolds, tensions rise and hidden truths come to light, forcing the group to confront trauma, betrayal, and manipulation. By morning, their lives—and relationships—are forever changed.

Speaking at the festival, Reach A Hand Uganda CEO Humphrey Nabimanya said the Leesu project was created to ensure young women’s voices are heard in conversations about issues affecting them.

“The Leesu project began as a way to highlight women’s issues, but we realized that young women’s voices were often missing,” Nabimanya said. “Leesu focuses on them, giving them a platform to tell their own stories. Most cases of gender-based violence affect young women, and films like Dissolved in Sweets reflect real experiences that continue to linger in communities like Busoga. These stories spark conversations, raise awareness, and inspire action.”

Industry professionals also used the event to encourage more women to pursue filmmaking.

Dr. Jessica Ahibisibwe, a member of the Uganda Producers Guild, acknowledged the challenges women face in the industry but emphasized the opportunities that come with persistence.

“Film is a lonely journey with lots of rejection, but it is also full of opportunity,” she said. “No one will hand you a silver platter—you have to create it yourself through skill and determination.”

Nana Kagga, Vice President of the Uganda Producers Guild, echoed similar sentiments, calling for more women to step into leadership roles in the film industry.

“I believe women are more powerful storytellers than men because we bring perspectives men cannot,” she said. “Film remains largely male-dominated. We must normalize more women producers and encourage more women to occupy these spaces.”

The conversations come at a critical time. According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey and UNFPA, one in four Ugandan girls aged between 15 and 19 is either pregnant or already a mother, highlighting the urgent need to amplify young women’s voices in discussions around health, rights, and opportunity.

During the festival, Reach A Hand Uganda also launched a new campaign called “Empowering Her Choice.” The initiative, developed in partnership with Simply Hers, aims to increase stigma-free access to sexual and reproductive health products such as condoms and lubricants through the Simply Hers online platform.

Through storytelling, advocacy, and youth-led initiatives like the Leesu Film Festival, Reach A Hand Uganda continues to push for a future where young women are not only heard but empowered to shape the narratives that affect their lives.

About Reach A Hand Uganda

Reach A Hand Uganda is a youth-led non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people through advocacy, storytelling, and programs that promote health, education, and opportunity.