Excitement filled Buyende as residents, schoolchildren, and local leaders welcomed East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Veronica Babirye Kadogo, who graced the World Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations and menstrual kit handover ceremony. The atmosphere was festive, but it was a powerful moment involving a young girl that shifted the event’s tone toward urgent advocacy.
While leading the national anthems, a girl suddenly broke down in tears, having started her period unexpectedly. Moved by the moment, MP Kadogo wrapped her in a lesu (wrapper), announced personal sponsorship for her education, and initiated a traditional dance to lighten the atmosphere. The incident underscored a bigger issue—schools lacked emergency sanitary pads, water, washrooms, and safe spaces for girls.
“This moment opened my eyes,” Kadogo said. “Menstrual hygiene is not a privilege. It is a human right. Girls should not be excluded from school or public spaces because of a natural process.”
Kadogo, a public health specialist, stressed that menstrual hygiene goes beyond sanitary pads.
“The most needed and expensive component during periods is water—for washing, cleaning, and disposal. Leaders must prioritize budgetary allocations for water and sanitation in schools,” she said, adding that she had raised this issue on the floor of Parliament.
She also criticized the lack of political will, especially from the Ministry of Finance, to provide free sanitary pads in schools.
“If government can provide free condoms, why not free pads for girls?” she questioned.
SHARE Project Steps In
To tackle period poverty in the district, the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) Project, led by Right to Play Uganda in partnership with WaterAid, FAWE, and FHI 360, launched a major intervention in Buyende.
The project distributed 91 branded sewing machines and start-up kits to 65 primary schools and 26 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) mentors. The materials—worth Shs51 million—will be used to train participants in making reusable sanitary pads.
Nelson Mandela Odero, Program Officer at Right to Play Uganda, explained the project’s goal: “Our approach includes menstrual education, reusable pad distribution, and creating safe spaces for discussion. We aim to empower girls to manage their periods with dignity and attend school regularly.”
According to Odero, the program targets over 2,700 youth aged 10–24, involving pupils, teachers, health workers, local leaders, and four line ministries—Gender, Health, Education, and Water & Environment.
Buyende District Education Officer, Dison Bwire, emphasized that advancing menstrual equality is critical to fighting period poverty and promoting gender equality.
“Many girls cannot afford sanitary products and are forced to use rags, leaves, or skip school,” he said. “Lack of access hinders education and reinforces harmful taboos.”
Bwire called for increased access to menstrual products and water facilities in schools, stressing the importance of environmental sustainability through the use of reusable pads.
Emmanuel Kaigulo, the District Community Development Officer, praised the initiative’s alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
“We must promote menstrual health education, peer support systems, and provide disposal bins in schools and communities,” Kaigulo said.
Community Impact
Josephine Poni, a mentor from Kagulu Sub-county, lauded the initiative: “This project has rescued girls from embarrassment. Now they have affordable, reusable pads and skills to sustain themselves economically.”
She said the kits will empower girls to stay in school, participate freely in activities, and contribute to their communities with confidence.
As Buyende leads by example, the SHARE project continues to push for dignity, equality, and opportunity—one sanitary pad at a time.