Women Members of the incoming 12th Parliament have been urged to lead the push for gender-sensitive legislation that safeguards progress in women’s empowerment and promotes the welfare of the girl child.

Speaking at the Women Parliamentary Breakfast Meeting held ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, 8th March 2026, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among called on newly elected and incumbent Women MPs to prioritize tax exemptions on sanitary towels during the national budget process.

Among revealed that nearly 1.2 million girls aged 12 to 18 struggles to access sanitary pads, a challenge contributing to a 70 percent school dropout rate among girls.

She emphasized that advocating for tax incentives on sanitary products, along with improving production and distribution, would greatly support school-going girls.

In her keynote address, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire encouraged Women MPs to champion the passage of the Legal Aid Bill, describing it as crucial for improving women’s access to justice.

She further noted that while Uganda has made strides in women’s leadership within the Executive and Legislature, the Judiciary still lags behind, calling for increased efforts to boost women’s representation in the sector.

END