1,000 Ugandan schoolgirls offered dignity hampers to promote menstrual health

HOIMA, March 26, 2025 – – The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Limited [EACOP] in partnership with Malaika, has launched a “Keep a Girl in School” initiative, distributing dignity hampers to 1,000 schoolgirls across the districts of Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Mubende, and Kyankwanzi. This initiative, part of EACOP’s Social Economic Investment, addresses a critical barrier to education by promoting menstrual health.

The hampers, designed to ensure girls’ consistent school attendance, contain reusable sanitary pads [four packets], three pairs of underwear, detergent, and a bucket. These sustainable products offer a long-term solution to the challenges faced by girls lacking access to menstrual hygiene supplies.

Statistics from Human Rights Watch indicate that one in ten girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle due to a lack of sanitary amenities, impacting both their education and confidence. This issue is particularly acute in rural and impoverished areas within the Albertine region, where poverty limits access to essential menstrual hygiene products.

Matred Murungi, EACOP’s Social and Environmental Investment Manager, officially handed over the hampers at a ceremony held recently at Kabaale Public Primary School, Hoima district.

She emphasised the initiative’s role in empowering girls through education and improving school retention.

“Menstrual health is fundamental to girls’ success in school,” Murungi stated. “By providing access to sanitary products, we are removing a significant barrier to education and fostering gender equity.”

Dan Busobozi, speaking on behalf of Kabaale Public Primary School, commended EACOP’s efforts. “We thank EACOP for their partnership in ensuring our girls have access to proper menstrual hygiene,” he said.

EACOP’s initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education. The company calls on other organiSations, community leaders, and individuals to join in accelerating action for gender equity by supporting initiatives that ensure access to menstrual products for all schoolchildren.

EACOP is a pipeline that will transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania where the oil will then be sold onwards to world markets.  EACOP runs 1,443km from Kabaale, Hoima district in Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania.

The pipeline allows Uganda to unlock value from its oil resources, and represents a significant inward investment of some US$ 4 billion across both Uganda and Tanzania.

EACOP is meant to traverse 10 districts, namely Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kyotera and Rakai, for a total distance of 296 kilometres.

https://thecooperator.news/eacop-laying-of-infrastructure-to-unlock-oil-production-progressing-well/