Advocates for improved menstrual health have reminded the government to honour its promise to remove taxes on sanitary pads.
The Uganda government promised to remove taxes on sanitary pads to improve access but it has failed to honour this pledge.
Girls in rural areas are most affected as they can’t afford sanitary pads due to high prices which affects school attendance.
“Pads should be for free, but surprisingly taxes are being increased on pads, this is very unfortunate because menstruation is not a choice. All females have to painfully go through it every month. We are asking the government to take away the taxes from sanitary pads because this is a necessity in every girl’s life,” said Dr. Cecilia Natembo, the Masaka Regional Director of Uganda Cares.
Research has shown that girls who have no access to pads miss more than two months of school each year which affects their academic performance.
The advocates stressed the importance of prioritizing menstrual health by supporting girls to stay in school and combat the stigma surrounding menstruation saying this is a normal bodily function.
Dr. Natembo also raised concerns about the lack of a comprehensive policy on health education, particularly regarding sexuality and menstrual health. She urged parents to bridge this gap by providing essential health education information to their children.
Activists reminded the government about its pledge to provide free sanitary pads to school-going children and expressed disappointment at failure to fullfill it. They emphasized the need for improved menstrual hygiene management in schools, including the provision of running water and designated toilets for girls to ensure they can change their pads comfortably.
Asumputa Nalubega of UHF Uganda Cares said schools should have free pads available for adolescents who may unexpectedly start menstruating. She highlights that many young girls engage in risky behaviors to acquire money for pads, and reducing taxes on pads would make them more affordable and accessible for all.
“A big number of these young girls start menstruation on the days they are not aware of. We need to ensure that schools have some free pads to give to these adolescents so that they can stay in class rather than going back home to pick a pad,” she added.
Responding to these concerns, leaders in the Kalungu district have pledged support for the campaign to improve menstrual health in schools. They propose allocating funds from unconditional grants given to schools to provide free pads to learners who experience their periods while at school.
Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu, Kalungu West legislator, attributed the delayed implementation of the free sanitary pad provision in schools to budget cuts for the Ministry of Education. He assured that the education committee in parliament is diligently working to increase the ministry’s budget to facilitate the provision of essential materials like pads.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni pledged to offer free sanitary pads to pupils during his 2015 campaign in the Lango sub-region, this commitment remains unfulfilled, intensifying the urgency of the activists’ call for action.