KAMPALA. The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) and Ecobank Uganda Ltd are seeking Shs200 million in a partnership drive to support girl child education.
Officials say the initiative will enable at least 10,000 vulnerable girls who are always affected with menstrual hygiene challenges due to lack of sanitary pads, stay in schools.
Under their ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiative, the partners during a fundraising breakfast held in Kampala on Tuesday, March 24 said the funds will be channeled towards purchasing sanitary towels that will be distributed to these girls.
“It requires Shs20,000 to keep one girl in school for a year, so, we are looking for Shs200 million so that we support at least 10,000 girls who miss three days every month at school because of menstrual hygiene issue. Through the ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiative, we are addressing a silent but significant barrier that forces many girls to miss school,” said Ecobank managing director, Ms Grace Muliisa.
The initiative which was launched in 2019, has so far reportedly benefited 120,000 girls, and continues to address menstrual hygiene challenges that hinder girls’ consistent school attendance.
The initiative is anchored on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between Ecobank Uganda and the URCS to collaborate on humanitarian and community development initiatives.
The breakfast, which marked the climax of the Women’s Month celebrations, served as a platform to mobilize support from the private sector and development community towards improving menstrual hygiene management and addressing one of the key barriers preventing girls from staying in school.
“The initiative will go a long way in restoring dignity to girls who are forced to miss school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene materials while also supporting their ability to stay in school and complete their education,” URCS Secretary General, Mr Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General said.
URCS and UK charitable foundation in 2023 launched the construction of a re-usable sanitary pads manufacturing plant in Namakwa, Mukono District.
The plant once fully established will manufacture 200,000 re-usable pads per year, which is an equivalent of 50,000 4-pad packs.
Around 20 per cent of the pads will be given to 10,000 vulnerable girls in-school free of charge. The remaining 80 per cent will be commercialized to 40,000 girls and women in the wider community at a subsidized price, which will ensure the long-term sustainability of the manufacturing facility.
Mr Kwesiga said there will be room for expansion in case the need arises so that no girl is left behind.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagenda who attended the event commended the partnership for its role in addressing barriers to girls’ education.
“Such initiatives are critical in supporting our national efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all. By addressing menstrual hygiene challenges, we are not only restoring dignity to young girls but also improving school retention and enabling them to fully participate in their education. We appreciate the commitment of partners in advancing this important cause. We have a very big responsibility to ensure that the 70 per cent have a meaningful life and become adult to take care of their families and contribute to the great aspiration of transforming Uganda,” she said.
