KOTIDO District, Uganda — More than 600 schoolgirls in Kotido District are expected to benefit from a menstrual health intervention aimed at reducing school absenteeism and dropout rates, following the provision of industrial grade sewing machines and an assortment of fabrics worth UGX 20 million by MTN Uganda.
The support will enable the production of reusable sanitary pads by Kara Girl Initiative, with funding delivered through MTN Foundation’s Changemakers Initiative.
The intervention targets one of the most persistent barriers to girls’ education in the Karamoja region, where lack of access to sanitary products often leads to missed school days and in some cases, permanent dropout.
By strengthening local production of reusable sanitary pads, the project is expected to improve school attendance, restore dignity for adolescent girls and support sustained participation in education across Kotido and surrounding communities.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, MTN Uganda’s Regional Commercial Head for the Northern Region, Philip Odoi, said the initiative is focused on practical solutions that remove barriers to learning.
“At MTN Uganda, we believe that everyone should enjoy the benefits of a modern connected life, but dignity and opportunity must also be part of that experience, especially for girls in school,” he said. “Before a girl can fully realise her potential and contribute to national development, she must first be supported to stay in school and learn with confidence.”
This intervention is part of the 25 exceptional projects that were selected as beneficiaries of the third phase of the MTN Uganda’s Changemakers Initiative, launched in 2023 as part of the company’s aspiration to empower communities.
The programme supports community-led solutions in education, health, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. MTN Uganda is investing UGX 500 million in the current phase to support the selected projects across the country.
In the past 3 years since its launch, the Changemakers Initiative has supported more than 50 projects, reached over 235,000 beneficiaries and invested more than UGX 1 billion.
Some of the beneficiaries in the current phase include the Migyera Women Centre of Influence in Nakasongola District, which received support to expand vocational training for women, Nyenje Voice Saving Association in Mukono District, which was backed to strengthen income-generating activities for low-income households, Kyobugombe Health Centre II in Kabale District, which received medical equipment and a solar power system to improve maternal healthcare and emergency services for more than 8,700 people, among other projects.
“The idea behind Changemakers is simple: the best solutions often already exist within communities,” Odoi said. “Our role is to identify them, support them and help scale their impact.”
Kara Girl Initiative Founder, Anastashia Natyang, welcomed the support, saying it directly addresses a major barrier to girls’ education in the region.
“We believe that cows can wait; education cannot,” she said. “This support is timely and goes beyond equipment. It will help keep girls in school, restore dignity and ensure they can pursue their education without interruption.’’
Kotido District Speaker, Emmanuel Lodio Lopwot, said the intervention responds to deeper structural challenges affecting girls’ education in Karamoja.
“For many girls in Karamoja, staying in school is affected by challenges beyond tuition and classrooms,” he said. “This initiative addresses one of those critical gaps in a practical and sustainable way.”
Odoi said the project includes a sustainability component to ensure continued production of reusable sanitary pads beyond the initial support period through local capacity building and maintenance of equipment.
He said MTN Uganda will continue expanding its social investment programmes as part of its broader commitment to inclusive and community-driven development countrywide.
