Koboko girls call for free sanitary pads to keep learners in school
Koboko girls call for free sanitary pads to keep learners in school
Education
By editor
Girls in Koboko District have called on government and development partners to provide free sanitary pads, saying menstrual hygiene support is critical to keeping girls in school and reducing vulnerabilities that can contribute to teenage pregnancies.
The learners made the call during a community dialogue held in Koboko on September 29, 2026, under the theme “Why Teenage Pregnancies Persist and What Must Change.”
The dialogue was organised under the Protect Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (PROTECT SRHR) Project, implemented by a consortium comprising the International Rescue Committee, World Vision Uganda, Reach A Hand Africa and Humanity & Inclusion, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The engagement brought together learners, teachers, community stakeholders and development partners to discuss the drivers of teenage pregnancy and possible solutions for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Benson Muhindo, Director of Programmes at Reach A Hand Africa, said the decision to combine the online dialogue with a physical community engagement was intended to allow organisers to hear directly from young people and communities affected by teenage pregnancy.
“Every month, we hold online webinars on teenage pregnancy with our counterparts in different African countries to benchmark how they are addressing the challenge,” Muhindo said.
He said the Koboko engagement was also intended to generate lessons on what has worked elsewhere and what Uganda could adopt to address the challenge.
Girls highlight menstrual hygiene challenge
For the learners, access to sanitary products remains an important part of staying in school and maintaining confidence during menstruation.
Patience Fatima, a Senior Three student at Nyarilo Secondary School, said free sanitary pads would reduce some of the pressures girls face when they cannot afford basic menstrual hygiene products.
“As girls, we are asking the government and NGOs to support us by providing sanitary pads,” she said.
Fatima said providing the products could reduce situations where girls become vulnerable to risky relationships in search of basic necessities.
The learners also encouraged their peers to make decisions that protect their education and future.
Ayikoru Sumaya, another student at Nyarilo Secondary School, urged young people to focus on education, choose their friends carefully and seek guidance when faced with difficult decisions.
“We should avoid groups that influence us negatively and instead be part of groups where we can gain knowledge, support and guidance,” she said.
Teachers call for greater support
Teachers at the dialogue said preventing teenage pregnancies requires coordinated action from families, schools, communities and government.
Ayikoru Gladys, a Senior Woman Teacher at Ombachi Self Help Primary School, said some girls struggle to remain in school when they lack basic menstrual hygiene support at home.
She said some girls resort to using old pieces of cloth during menstruation, affecting their confidence and ability to participate fully in school activities.
“What we are currently doing for these girls is not enough. We need a combined effort to ensure that girls remain in school and complete their education,” Gladys said.
She also called for continued support for girls who become pregnant while still of school-going age, saying pregnancy should not end their opportunity to pursue education.
“A girl who becomes pregnant should not be considered finished. When she returns to school, she can also become an example and share her experience with other girls about the dangers of early pregnancy,” she said.
Stakeholders seek continued dialogue
Muhindo said Uganda’s teenage pregnancy challenge requires continued engagement among communities, government agencies and development partners.
He said teenage pregnancy rates in Uganda have remained a concern over the years, prompting stakeholders to examine the social, economic and health factors behind the problem.
The PROTECT SRHR project is a four-year initiative running from 2024 to 2028 and is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda.
The project operates in six districts in the West Nile region and focuses on improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, strengthening education systems, economic empowerment, social and gender norms transformation, and inclusive governance.
According to the organisers, the project covers 89 sub-counties, 167 health facilities and 952 schools, targeting adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24, including young people with disabilities, teenage mothers and those outside education, employment or training.
The organisers said the project seeks to address teenage pregnancies, preventable maternal deaths, sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and new HIV infections while strengthening community and institutional systems supporting young people’s health and wellbeing.
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