Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, in a recent statement, expressed her frustration with the media, accusing them of spreading baseless rumors instead of promoting issues related to the country’s development. She emphatically denied any conflicts with fellow cabinet members and criticized those responsible for spreading such unfounded claims.
Nabbanja made these comments during an event called “Take a Girl Child to Work Day” held at her office, where young girls assumed the roles of important figures in society as a way to inspire them to pursue a brighter future and break free from societal barriers that hinder women’s progress.
Nabbanja, who officially became the Prime Minister of Uganda on June 21, 2021, is the first woman to hold this position since the country gained independence in 1962.
At the event, Celestine Mugenyi, representing the girls, called on the government to reevaluate its policy on providing sanitary pads to girls. She argued that the high cost of sanitary pads was leading some girls to seek financial assistance from men, potentially exposing them to the risk of HIV and AIDS. She urged for support from organizations or the government to make sanitary pads more accessible to mitigate these dangers.
Mugenyi also highlighted the issue of gender-based violence in Uganda and stressed the need for action to address the 22 percent of Ugandan girls who experience sexual violence, as it could hinder efforts to reduce teenage pregnancies and school dropouts.
Isaac Obeng, the interim country director for Plan International, explained that the “Take a Girl Child to Work Day” activities were carried out nationwide to shed light on the structural barriers that limit opportunities for girls and find collective solutions to overcome them.
