Uganda, March 11 -- During the International Women's Day celebrations in Katakwi District last Friday, Vice President Jessica Alupo said the government is considering reducing taxes on sanitary pads.

Just last month, this publication reported on girls in Busoga Sub-region, who pile soil in polythene bags and use them as emergency sanitary pads.

While reducing taxes on these items is long overdue and welcome, we still believe total removal of taxes is the best gift we can give to all girls and women to empower them.

A 2020 study by the Ministry of Education and Sports revealed that out of 152 girls interviewed, 43 reported having emergency pads at school, while 109 (71 percent) of the girls had none in their schools.

The same study est...