Otuke, Uganda | More than 100 schoolgirls in Otuke East County from Alangi and Anepmoroto Primary Schools have received sanitary pads while nine bicycles were handed over to high-achieving pupils, in a campaign by Member of Parliament Julius Acon Bua to promote education and curb teenage pregnancies.
The event, held on Tuesday 23 September 2025 at Kristina Health Centre III in Otuke Town Council, was aimed at addressing school dropout among adolescent girls, particularly those who struggle to access sanitary products.
Acon explained that many young girls, especially from Primary Six onwards, abandon school due to lack of sanitary pads and stigma associated with menstruation.
He noted that the problem, coupled with rising teenage pregnancies, continued to threaten the future of girls in rural Uganda.
He stressed that the community needed to fight to keep girls in school, pointing out that many of them miss classes or drop out when they could not access sanitary pads, and that too many are becoming pregnant at tender ages.
He added that government and well-wishers need to intervene urgently.
The distribution is part of an annual initiative supported by Acon’s American friends led by Angela Fee, who has partnered with the MP to provide sanitary pads and mama kits for expectant mothers.
Today, Acon demonstrated his commitment by running on foot from Lira City to Otuke, while his foreign guests cycled from Entebbe Airport through Jinja, Pallisa, Soroti and Lira, completing the five-day journey before arriving in Otuke.
He encouraged young girls to take education seriously, saying that in Europe and America, girls often completed their studies before marriage, unlike in many African communities where early marriage remained widespread.
The In-Charge of Kristina Health Centre III, Anyi Daniel, warned that teenage pregnancy is on the rise.
He revealed that 28% of all expectant mothers who attended antenatal care at the facility last financial year were under 18 years, the highest figure recorded in recent years.
Anyi attributed the increase to poor sensitisation about sexual and reproductive health, as well as parental reluctance to discuss such issues with their children.
He added that poverty is also driving many girls out of school and into early pregnancies.
Nine bicycles were allocated to pupils who excelled in last year’s PLE and UACE exams.
Five were collected by parents on behalf of their daughters now enrolled at secondary schools and universities.
The beneficiaries included Aguti Gloria (Okwang Secondary School), Awor Naome (Adwari Secondary School), Adongo Lucky (Okwang Secondary School), Alaba Immaculate (Anepmoroto Primary School – 12 aggregates), and Atala Nelly (Anepmoroto Primary School – 12 aggregates).
Four other pupils Auma Jenifer (8 aggregates), Apio Monica (8 aggregates), Acen Grace (11 aggregates), and Alupo Laury (12 aggregates), all from Aliwang Primary School, were absent but will collect their bicycles later.
Angela Fee, who funded the initiative, said the bicycles would serve as a source of inspiration, encouraging girls to work hard at school while also pursuing their sporting talents.
She added that the sanitary pads were intended to help the girls protect their dignity and avoid missing school during menstruation.
Enyang Charles Dick, Headteacher of Oluro Primary School, pointed to poor sanitation facilities, lack of scholastic materials, and entrenched cultural attitudes that treat girls as sources of dowry as major barriers to education.
Auma Fiona, Senior Woman Teacher at Anepmoroto Primary School, noted that teachers provided emergency sanitary pads at school but insisted that parents needed to take more responsibility.
She urged mothers to improvise their girls with clean clothes where commercial pads were unaffordable.
The MP pledged to continue expanding the initiative across the constituency, combining education support with health interventions to give girls a better chance of staying in school and completing their education.