Uganda risks slowing its progress toward inclusive and sustainable development unless urgent action is taken to address period poverty and improve access to affordable menstrual health products, development partners and health experts have warned.
The call was made during the launch of a new sanitary pad initiative by the Union Transport Alliance, an intervention aimed at expanding access to health products and reducing barriers faced by girls and women across the country.
Speaking at the launch, Union Transport Alliance Chief Executive Officer Fred Ssenoga said menstrual health remains one of the most overlooked challenges affecting the education, health and economic participation of women and girls.
“Investing in menstrual health is not only a health issue but also a development imperative,” Ssenoga said. “When girls and women have access to affordable sanitary products, they are better positioned to stay in school, participate in the workforce and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
His remarks come amid growing concern over period poverty in Uganda, where many school-going girls continue to struggle to afford sanitary products. The challenge has been linked to absenteeism, poor academic performance and increased vulnerability among adolescent girls.
Ssenoga also highlighted the rapid growth of the Alliance and the support it has attracted from development partners and stakeholders.
“In addition to the partners that have come on board, within one year we have built the best union brand. Our partners have contributed monetary value worth UGX 12 billion and helped us build a strong brand—this is unprecedented,” he said.
The remarks underscore growing private-sector involvement in addressing social challenges that disproportionately affect women and girls, particularly those from low-income households.
According to Dr. Allan Kasozi, Senior Medical Officer in the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the Ministry of Health, inadequate access to menstrual health products remains a significant obstacle to educational attainment for many girls.
“Period poverty continues to push some girls out of school, affecting both their education and overall well-being,” Dr. Kasozi said.
He warned that girls who frequently miss classes or eventually drop out due to menstrual health challenges face heightened risks of early marriage, teenage pregnancy and exploitation, outcomes that can have long-term social and economic consequences.
The launch of the sanitary pad initiative highlights increasing efforts by private sector actors and development stakeholders to tackle menstrual health challenges that have traditionally received limited policy and funding attention.
Experts argue that addressing menstrual health is critical to achieving broader national goals, including gender equality, improved educational outcomes and increased female participation in the economy. Studies have consistently shown that keeping girls in school leads to higher lifetime earnings, better health outcomes and stronger economic growth.
As Uganda seeks to accelerate human capital development and meet its social development targets, stakeholders say affordable menstrual health products should be treated as an essential necessity rather than a luxury.