Naguru Teenage Centre a youth led organization has successfully conducted a four days training aimed at strengthening social accountability, advocacy, leaderships among young people, civil society organizations and community based organizations, to improve service delivery in their communities.

The training held from 27th-30th April, 2026 in Gulu city brought together 35 participants drawn from the district leadership structures, youth led CSOs and CBOs, across the 5 districts of Lamwo, Kitgum, Adjumani, Moyo and Obongi. The capacity building focuses on equipping participants with practical skills to effectively engage duty bearers, monitor public service delivery and advocate for improved services particularly in critical areas affecting young people such as, SRHR and GBV response.

Speaking after the training, Chol Gabriel, a participant from Safe Home Africa, a civil society organization in Adjumani district said the training significantly expanded their understanding of leadership particularly in relation to power dynamics.

“The four days training conducted by Naguru Teenage Centre, has broadened our understanding specifically on the leadership aspects, power dynamics and advocacy. For one to advocate, as a refugee, youth led organization, a CBO or an individual, you need to identify or hotspot the power dynamics in your location and also know what you advocate for. As an advocate, you should do it with evidence”, said Gabriel Chol.

Watmon Derrick, a youth council chairperson of Kitgum district described the training as highly ‘impactful’.

“I can say and attest that the training was a top notch. It was effective that we learnt a lot and at the end of the day, we were very passionate to apply them in our districts”, says Derrick Watmon.

Similarly, Reagan Emezo, the district youth chairperson of Lamwo district said the training has deepened his understanding of social accountability.

“I learnt about social accountability, adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights to participate, and when I get back home, I will gather the youth leaders under my docket especially from the sub-county structures, and also impact them with the same knowledge that I got from the training. Secondly, I would also be working hand in hand with the CSOs to make sure that we visit health facilities and also track the records on how the teenagers are being treated at the various health facilities within our districts”, says Reagan.

Speaking on behalf of Naguru Teenage Centre, Mr. Thembo Joshua emphasize the importance of translating knowledge into action.

“We believe that the two structures are very critical in creating and pushing demand in the communities, so we believe that the youth leaders can be a great force to create change and demands down in the communities. The CSOs have complimentary mandate to what the government is doing. The CSO actors can also go down to the grass-root level and transform communities through their work, and as the participant go back to their communities, they should be the change agents and put into practice what they learnt, reach to the young people, structures at community level and also empower them. The youth leaders to reach out to their fellows, empower them’’, says Mr. Thembo Joshua.

The training was part of ongoing effort by Naguru Teenage Centre to empower young people to take leadership roles in governance, promote accountability, and improve service delivery across communities in Northern Uganda.