Menstrual Hygiene Concerns Take Center Stage Ahead of 2025 Women’s Day

As Uganda prepares to mark International Women’s Day 2025, activists led by Femme Forte Uganda have raised alarm over the persistent menstrual hygiene crisis affecting millions of girls.

They warn that inadequate access to sanitary products and clean water continues to hinder girls’ education and well-being, calling for urgent government intervention.

In a press statement, women’s rights activists highlighted findings from the latest Auditor General’s report, revealing that 19.8% of adolescent girls cited menstruation as the primary reason for missing school, while 38.5% expressed fear of leaking as a major concern.

Activists argue that these figures underscore a crisis requiring immediate action.

“Girls are missing school because they cannot afford sanitary pads. This is a fundamental violation of their right to education,” said a representative from Femme Forte Uganda, one of 13 organizations that have signed a petition demanding urgent policy reforms.

Beyond the lack of sanitary products, activists point to the challenge of accessing clean water, a problem worsened by climate change and inadequate infrastructure.

They note that in remote areas, girls are forced to use unhygienic materials such as sand or dig holes to manage their periods, putting their health at serious risk.

The Auditor General’s report highlights that water scarcity, long distances to boreholes, and fees charged for fetching water further exacerbate the issue.

“We talk about menstrual hygiene, but how do we expect girls to manage their periods when they lack access to clean water, proper toilets, and safe disposal facilities?” asked an official from the Center for Women’s Justice Uganda (CWJU).

Activists argue that despite government claims of resource constraints, menstrual health interventions would require just 0.05% of the national budget—a negligible fraction compared to other expenditures.

“The government says there is no money, yet billions are wasted on non-priority areas. Investing in menstrual health is not charity—it is a fundamental human rights issue,” said a spokesperson from the Women’s Pro Bono Initiative (WPI).

Critics have also accused the government of neglecting women’s rights by focusing on morality-based policies while ignoring pressing social issues like menstrual health.

The proposed Marriage Bill 2024, which seeks to criminalize cohabitation, has sparked outrage, with activists arguing that such legislation distracts from more urgent concerns.

“Instead of policing who lives with whom, why can’t the government ensure that girls can go to school without fear of humiliation due to menstruation?” asked a representative from Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMWA).

The shrinking civic space for NGOs has further complicated efforts to bridge the menstrual health gap.

The recent USAID funding freeze and the Dutch government’s decision to cut support for women’s rights projects have left many organizations struggling to provide essential services.

“Over 8,000 NGOs have shut down in the last four years. Many of these organizations were filling gaps left by the government, particularly in providing menstrual hygiene products and education,” said a spokesperson from the Wilmat Development Foundation (WDF).

Women’s rights organizations have issued a set of demands urging various stakeholders to take immediate action.

They are calling on the government to guarantee domestic financing for menstrual health services, including access to sanitary pads, clean water, and school facilities.

Religious and cultural leaders have been urged to shift their focus from promoting moral panic to addressing gender-based violence and period poverty.

The media has also been advised to prioritize factual reporting on menstrual health and hold leaders accountable for their commitments.

“Menstrual health is central to achieving gender equality. If we truly care about empowering women and girls, we must ensure that no girl misses school because of her period,” emphasized a representative from the Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW).

As Uganda prepares to celebrate Women’s Day, activists insist that the government must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action.

“We cannot celebrate women’s achievements while ignoring the struggles of millions of girls,” they concluded.