CSOs call for tax waiver on sanitary pads

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Civil society organisations (CSOs) affiliated with the Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET) are advocating for a tax exemption on sanitary pads and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) products.

Along with members of the Parliamentary WASH Forum, they say many girls and women, particularly in remote rural areas, continue to struggle with menstrual hygiene management due to the prohibitive costs of sanitary products. Therefore, waiving taxes on the pads will enhance accessibility for women and girls.

Lamwo District Woman MP, Nancy Acora, highlighted that the affordability of menstrual products is crucial for the health and wellbeing of girls and women, underscoring the necessity for tax exemptions.

During a one-day policy dialogue focused on improving menstrual hygiene management at Eureka Place Hotel in Ntinda, Kampala on November 25, 2024, she advocated for inclusive fiscal policies and gender-responsive procurement.

Acora called for collective mobilising support to implement subsidies for sanitary pads.

“The issue of cost for menstrual health products is pertinent to the wellbeing of our girls and women. Therefore, we shall mobilise support for efforts to have subsidies on these products and materials, when it comes to Parliament,” she noted.

Acora, who was representing the chairperson of the parliamentary WASH forum, stressed that the absence of sanitary pads continues to be a significant barrier for many girls in finishing their education.

She highlighted that the Parliamentary Forum on WASH is actively leading efforts, particularly advocating for tax exemptions on all WASH products.

Acora  stressed that when it comes to issues of the menstrual cycle, a woman MP faces the same.

“For a person who is going to live all her menstrual life up to around 43 or 45 before stopping the menstrual cycle, you spend more than 10 years experiencing a monthly flow. First of all, the psychological torture you go through as a woman, what about the woman down there in my village whose parents cannot afford to get sh3,000 in one week or a month, what are they going through,” she said.

Acora  added that the parliamentary Wash forum is to collaborate closely with various partners to advocate for those who are often unheard.

She pointed out that while the government has implemented a tax waiver for condoms, the importance of menstrual products like towels cannot be overlooked.

“A man can buy condoms 20 and can be less than sh20,000, but a woman needs to spend sh7,000 on the best quality sanitary towel on each packet yet even the packet cannot finish the whole cycle,” Acora added.

James Cleto Mubere, the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at UWASNET. (Photo by Jeff Andrew Lule)

James Cleto Mubere, the policy and advocacy co-ordinator at UWASNET, highlighted that a significant number of young girls are leaving school due to their inability to afford menstrual hygiene products.

“Research shows that to get one menstrual hygiene sanitary pad, one may have to pay about sh3,000 the least. So, if it's a cycle of five days, two or three times a day, you can calculate how much money they have to spend. That is why we are urging the Government to reduce or waive taxes on menstrual hygiene products and other products".

He stressed that this is not about just menstrual hygiene but an issue of WASH.

“When someone is in their menstrual cycle, they need a lot of water and you know the issue of water tariffs. Those who do not have access to water have a lot of challenges. We think to reduce the burden of universal access to menstrual hygiene products or WASH equipment, the Government needs to think of these products as medical products,” he added.

Yunia Musaazi, the executive director of UWASNET, emphasized that the high costs associated with menstrual health products significantly impact the well-being of vulnerable girls.

She highlighted that addressing the taxation of these essential items is a crucial advocacy matter that requires united efforts and action to drive meaningful change.

Meanwhile, George Aribo, the executive director of Viva con Agua Uganda, pointed out that while initiatives to enhance menstrual health for girls have included the production of their products, the cost of raw materials remains prohibitively high.

“Tax exemptions on them are required to enable the private sector to deliver low-cost products,” he added.

They also urged the government to create initiatives that support women-led businesses in participating in public procurement, particularly for those involved in WASH products, enabling them to compete effectively.

John Mutebe, the programs manager at the Water and Sanitation Entrepreneurs Association Uganda (WASEU), pointed out that while the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act reserves 15% of the annual procurement budget for women-led enterprises, only a mere 1% is utilized, with data on WASH procurement being even more scarce.

He noted that this situation stems from a lack of skills, insufficient mentorship for capacity building, limited access to financial services, and complex processes that deter women from getting involved, among other factors.