MP says she used socks for pads

Jul 17, 2019

Naigaga gave the testimony during a function at which the minister for the presidency, Esther Mbayo launched a campaign geared at distributing reusable sanitary towels to girls in 24 senior secondary schools in Uganda.

Naigaga (with microphone) flanked by Mbayo (left) and Katali, Mukoda and Watongola at the launch of the distribution of sanitary towels in Luuka on Monday. Photo by Jackie Nambogga

The Namutumba district Woman legislator stunned an audience when she said she once used socks to act as pads.


Mariam Naigaga said when her initial menstruation began in 1993 while in Senior One, she confided in a boy with whom they shared a desk and asked for his stockings which acted as sanitary towels.

Naigaga gave the testimony during a function at which the minister for the presidency, Esther Mbayo launched a campaign geared at distributing reusable sanitary towels to girls in 24 senior secondary schools in Uganda.

The function took place at Busalamu Secondary School in Bukanga sub-county, Luuka district on Monday where 1,100 students were given the free towels.

The campaign is financed by Binance Charity Foundation based in Malta and it is being implemented by Safe Future, a nongovernmental organisation.

However, Naigaga elaborated that issuance of sanitary towels was not part of a legislator's role, but Mbayo deemed it necessary to lobby for the support because of the plight of girls, especially from rural areas.

"This is a role of parents to nurture, prepare and avail such basics to there children, but it is one of the strategies that can keep our girls in schools," Naigaga said.

Meanwhile, Mbayo who is also the Luuka Woman legislator said they conducted a survey and established that the failure to provide sanitary towels had partly affected the academic performance in Luuka.

She said this had sparked off early marriages and unwanted pregnancies.

"It was out of pain as a girl child who grew up from the rural district in Luuka that I had to come up with interventions. I wouldn't have been what I am had it not been the intervention of wellwishers such as Binance Charity Foundation, which has stepped in to assist the girl child," Mbayo said.

She told the girls that menstruation was not a disease to keep them out of school, but what they lacked was preparation during the process.

"Menstruation is not mentioned anywhere as a disease, it is very normal, what is required of you is preparation so that no one notices you," she urged.

She, therefore, challenged parents to provide basics to there children to learn without being affected.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Binance Charity Foundation, Iris Du, said $250,000 (sh925m) had been injected into the programme to nurture all girls.

"l am so confident that we will achieve our mission, let's unite together for a common cause," she said.

She said they will use the pink care token to make the whole donation process transparent

Anthony Mula, the Executive Director Safe Future, said they were targeting 50,000 girls of which 10,000 would be drawn from Luuka.

Nasabu Nantale, the Busoga kingdom deputy minister for education, said bodaboda riders remain the main causes of school dropouts as they disturb girls despite the majority being fathers.

Nantale, a former education officer in Luuka district, said there was a school which had a record of 10 girls who had been impregnated in one term.

She said the programme was in line with the Kyabazinga's campaign of promoting education in his territory by keeping girls in school and avoiding early marriage.

Loy Katali, the Jinja Woman legislator, said the girls would no longer be a laughing stock as before.

Rehema Watongola, the Kamuli municipality Member of Parliament, said her papers had been questioned when and I urge girls to remain in school throughout.

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