UNSA LAUNCHES YEAR-LONG SANITARY PAD CAMPAIGN TO KEEP GIRLS IN SCHOOL

H.E. Ainebabazi Shilla, UNSA president speaking during the launch.

By Biko Rombe

Gulu City

The Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) has launched a year-long sanitary pad campaign aimed at keeping vulnerable girls in school by addressing menstrual hygiene challenges that continue to contribute to absenteeism and school dropouts.

The campaign was officially unveiled during the UNSA Annual Student Leadership Induction held at Gulu Central High School on Saturday 19th July 2026, bringing together about 450 students, teachers and student leaders from 28 secondary schools and institutions of higher learning across Gulu City and neighbouring districts.

The sanitary pad initiative will be implemented immediately after the launch, with UNSA leaders visiting secondary schools across Gulu City throughout the year to distribute sanitary pads to girls in need in partnership with the Office of the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) and the Inspector of Schools.

Speaking during the launch, Gulu City UNSA Coordinator Akena Amos Onyura said the initiative was introduced after the association observed that many girls continue to miss classes or abandon school because they cannot afford sanitary pads.

UNSA executives pose for photo after the launch of the campaign

“We are going to all the schools within Gulu City so that we give sanitary towels to girls who are suffering. Others are dropping out of school because there are no sanitary towels. Others have been ashamed, traumatized and stigmatized,” Onyura said.

He explained that the campaign is intended to empower girls from disadvantaged families who are unable to purchase sanitary pads, noting that menstrual hygiene remains one of the hidden barriers to girls’ education.

According to Onyura, many girls stay away from school after being ridiculed or embarrassed when they experience menstrual accidents in class. Others, he said, become vulnerable to sexual exploitation after being lured with promises of money or sanitary pads, exposing them to early pregnancies and child marriages.

“There are some girls who have dropped out of school because during their menstrual period they experienced humiliation. Somebody laughed at them; somebody traumatized them or pointed fingers at them. Others end up getting pregnant because someone lures them with promises of buying them what they need,” he said.

He said the association wants every girl to remain in school and concentrate on her studies without worrying about access to menstrual hygiene products.

“We want to encourage our girl child to remain in school and focus because in future they are the ones who will support our communities,” Onyura added.

Onyura revealed that the initiative was informed by analysis conducted by UNSA, which found that girls make up the majority of learners in Gulu City’s approximately 38 secondary schools, yet many continue to face challenges accessing sanitary pads.

He appealed to individuals, companies, organisations and development partners to support the campaign by donating sanitary pads or financial resources. He said donations will be coordinated through the Office of the Resident City Commissioner and the Inspector of Schools, while those seeking to support the initiative can also contact the UNSA Gulu City coordination office or contribute through the Uganda National Students Association District Executive Committee account at Stanbic Bank.

Gulu City Mayor His Worship Julius Labega, represented by Hon. Oketayot Aaron, the Chairperson for Nationsl Youth council (NYC), welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that will help keep more girls in school and improve their academic performance.

As a gesture of support, Hon. Oketayot made an immediate contribution of Shs100,000 towards the sanitary pad campaign and encouraged other leaders, development partners and members of the public to contribute to ensure no girl misses school because of a lack of menstrual hygiene products.