In a bid to support girl child education, Retired Major General Timothy Mutebile on Saturday donated Reusable sanitary pads worth Shs4.5 million to over 300 girls of St. Theresa girls vocational and primary school Rushoroza in Kabale Municipality.
Handing over the pads to the girls at the school premises in Kabale Municipality, Major General Mutebiile said he decided to donate the pads to ensure that girls stay in school all times during menstruation period.
Gen Mutebile said most of girls who absent and drop out of schools due to their menstrual periods could stay in school without any hindrances.
”Most of the girls do not return for afternoon lessons whenever they are experiencing their cycles .These sanitary pads will help to reduce the absenteeism among the girls,” Mutebile said.
During the 2016 election campaign, President Museveni pledged to buy sanitary towels for girls in need.
The government estimated that 30 per cent of Ugandan girls from poor families miss school because of lack of sanitary pads. But shortly after that election pledge, Ms Janet Museveni, the Minister for Education and Sports, said there were insufficient funds to buy the pads for the girls.
This then led to a campaign by former Makerere University researcher, Ms Stella Nyanzi, on ensuring that there is provision of pads in schools.
Recently, UN Population Fund distributed about 50,000 disposable pads in 14 districts of Uganda.
Major General Mutebile who recently retired from the army after thirty three years of service is poised to contest for the Kabale Municipality Member of parliament. The seat is currently occupied by Hon. Baryayanga Andrew Aja.
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