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Gender Minister, Betty Amongi
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By Our Reporter
Almost a decade after President Yoweri Museveni failed to deliver on his promise to provide sanitary pads to all school-going girls in Uganda, the government has now officially backtracked on its commitment, citing tough economic conditions.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Gender, Betty Amongi, while responding to concerns raised by Brenda Nabukenya, the Woman MP for Luwero District, regarding the government’s failure to provide sanitary towels to women incarcerated in various prisons across the country.
“The proposal of free sanitary pads was examined within the available budget, and it was found not to be tenable at the moment due to economic constraints. However, regarding the issue of tax on sanitary products, I will take it to Cabinet for consideration, and since tax laws will come here (to Parliament), we will explore how best to handle it,” said Minister Amongi.
Nabukenya Brenda, Woman MP Luwero district
The promise of free sanitary pads was originally made by President Museveni while campaigning in the Lango sub-region in 2015. He pledged that if re-elected, his government would ensure that school-going girls received free sanitary pads to promote menstrual health and keep them in school.
However, almost ten years later, the promise remains unfulfilled, with the government citing financial difficulties as the main hindrance to implementation.
Nabukenya also raised concerns about the dire situation faced by female prisoners, many of whom struggle to access sanitary products while in incarceration.
“We have women in prisons who don’t have access to sanitary pads. I have met several inmates who told me that during their periods, they have to wait until they can reach out to their families for assistance before they can access sanitary towels. The Ministry needs to visit prisons and ensure that these women receive all the necessities they require. MPs have discussed this issue as part of the debate on the statement commemorating International Women’s Day,” said Nabukenya.
With the government stepping back from its commitment, many activists and legislators continue to call for alternative measures to ensure that both school-going girls and incarcerated women have access to sanitary products, either through subsidies, tax exemptions, or direct support programs.
Torch Media Africa
