KAMPALA, Uganda — As Uganda joined the world in observing Menstrual Hygiene Day on Wednesday, advocates issued a sharp reminder to the government about its unfulfilled promise to provide free sanitary pads to schoolgirls. The pledge, initially made by President Yoweri Museveni during his 2015 campaign in the Lango sub-region, was later integrated into the ruling National Resistance Movement’s 2016-2021 manifesto.
Despite the public commitment, the initiative has yet to materialize, leaving many girls still struggling with menstrual health management and its associated challenges.
Menstrual Hygiene Day, an annual awareness day on May 28, aims to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management globally. It was established in 2013 by the German-based NGO WASH United to foster a united voice for women and girls and to break the silence surrounding menstruation.
Dorothy Awori, Executive Director of Malaika Reusable Pads, emphasized the dire consequences of poor menstrual hygiene management, noting that it can lead to girls missing up to 50 days of school per year. This absenteeism, she said, significantly hinders their education and overall well-being. Awori also underscored the critical need for proper sex education, including menstrual health, to dismantle cultural taboos and stigma.
Hadijja Mwanje, founder of High Sound for Children, further highlighted the instrumental role of menstrual hygiene in women’s health. She explained that “proper menstrual hygiene practices, including regular hand washing and using appropriate menstrual products, help prevent reproductive and urinary tract infections, which can lead to serious health complications like infertility and complications during childbirth.” Mwanje added that good hygiene also boosts women’s confidence and self-esteem, enabling their full participation in daily activities.
Advocates are now pressing for immediate action, asserting that the government’s consistent failure to deliver on its promise to provide free sanitary pads must be addressed urgently to uplift girls and women across the nation.
