The Parliament of Uganda has tasked the Education and Sports Ministry to present a budget for the provision of free sanitary pads to school girls.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga issued the directive after the Presidency Minister, Esther Mbayo, failed to state how much money government requires to fulfill President Yoweri Museveni’s pledge to supply free sanitary pads to primary school girls.
Kadaga asked Mbayo to clarify how many girls will receive the pads and how much is required to fulfill the pledge. Mbayo requested Parliament to task the Education Ministry to provide the details as the concerned ministry.
Museveni pledged to provide school girls free sanitary pads during the 2016 election campaigns in West Nile. On Wednesday, the Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal sought an explosion from when the government will fulfill the presidential pledge.
In her response, Mbayo asked the House to use its appropriation role to allocate a budget for the provision of free pads. However, Mbayo said the Education Ministry will provide such details. She, however, noted that the Presidency Ministry is aware that girls face a number of challenges because most schools in rural and hard to reach areas lack clean sanitary facilities, changing rooms, waste disposal facilities, water and soap for washing and hygienic-sanitary wear.