Civil society organizations have renewed calls for the reduction of taxes on sanitary towels and menstrual pads, arguing that the high cost and limited access continue to hinder many girls and women in Uganda from managing their menstrual health with dignity.
The Mivule Foundation led the latest appeal during an outreach in Kazo, where it donated sanitary towels to female students.
Beneficiaries welcomed the gesture, saying they often miss school during their menstrual periods due to the inability to afford pads.
The campaign comes amid renewed criticism of the government’s unfulfilled 2011 pledge to provide free sanitary towels to schoolgirls.
Speaking to Nile Post, Alvin Mivule, founder of Mivule Foundation, emphasized the urgency of action.
“In 2011, the President committed to offering free sanitary pads to girls in school, but that promise remains unfulfilled. About 26 percent of girls drop out of school due to lack of access to pads, while 64 percent miss classes during their periods. Reducing taxes on sanitary towels would significantly lower prices and help keep more girls in school,” Mivule said.
Meanwhile, another organization, The She Unit, extended its outreach to differently abled children at Namutamba Rehabilitation Centre, donating essential household items to improve their living conditions.
Prossy Kisitu, a single mother of a differently abled child, expressed gratitude for the support.
“This outreach means a lot to us single parents. My husband abandoned us, saying he couldn’t have a disabled child, so I’ve had to manage alone. This kind of support eases my burden,” she said.
Ms. Natukunda Charity, Director of Namutamba Rehabilitation Centre, commended the initiative and noted the high medical costs faced by the children.
“The cost of treatment and surgeries is extremely high — even a minor operation can cost about five million shillings. That’s why such support is so vital,” she said.
The renewed advocacy by Mivule Foundation and similar organizations underscores the link between poverty, gender, and health, and calls on government to make sanitary products more affordable and accessible for every girl in Uganda.