Kampala

Kampala Story 1, Age 36:

Experiences of emergency period while in the city are a common occurrence for me. Sometimes I have planned to change but am delayed in a meeting or engagement. This ends up into soiling or leakage and clothes are stained. Unusually there is no decent space that can facilitate changing, showering and being able to clean up and continue with work. Usually the option is to run home as fast as possible. Sometimes this occurs as result of long hours of sitting and walking in town. This causes shame and stigma to women and girls.

Kampala Story 2, Age 24:

I experienced this when I was at college, I was certainly 20 years of age by then. After my last morning lecture in the computer lab, I get to go pick my bag from the shelf only to be tapped hastily by my cousin sister. She told me my dress was stained and I immediately sat down uncomfortably and starting to feel some mild embarrassment. Lucky for me, one of the other girls who were seated next to me quickly offered me their sweater to tie around my waist and block visibility of the stained dress. I felt okay with that and immediately rushed back to my hostel, about 2km away to take a bath and wear a pad. Of course by the time I reached, the blood had spread further down my thighs but I was just glad I caught it in time. I felt okay after my bath and rested a bit. Everything was okay after that because I learned at an early age that it’s okay to have messy unexpected periods sometimes and this incident didn’t affect me in any way further. However, had I not been able to access my hostel in time, this situation would have gone dire because at my college, the washrooms don’t have showers where one can take a bath in a situation like this. So, I advice the government and other institutions to be mindful of such situations when putting up washrooms because it would save the day for us.

Kampala Story 3, Age 26:

I was about 13 years old and this was the first time of experiencing the period. I was at church in the middle of a service then I felt the blood flow out. Being the first time, I hadn’t anticipated this and so hadn't carried a menstrual pad. As soon as service got done, my mum first rushed home and then asked my brothers to bring me a cloth to cover myself. Low and behold, they came to me at church, where I had remained sited for quite some minutes waiting with anxiety. I tied the cloth around myself and walked home. I didn't of course want to explain anything to other members at home, and then rushed straight to the bathroom to clean myself after which my mum have me a sanitary pad since she had some at home.

Kampala Story 4, Age 25:

 I was just a teenager about 14 years old heading downtown for prom shopping with my sister. I was just getting to understand the changes my body was going through during adolescence. I was in a white dress and we were passing by those gentlemen that pull you to their stands to browse through their products. One of them tapped my shoulder and said, “ madam, it seems you sat on a dirty chair, it has stained your dress!” He said it in Luganda so my sister who was walking side by side with me looked back and checked my dress only to find it was a blood stain. I was so embarrassed, I didn’t expect my period that day and I hadn’t even felt any symptoms of the period. It turns out I was overwhelmed during the shopping and my period begun. The gentleman was kind enough to give me a free black Caribbean skirt from his stall to wear and coverup my stain. I was so grateful. My sister then took me to the nearest bathroom and gave me tissue to insert so as to prevent me from staining further. I was in despair. I felt ashamed and honestly very overwhelmed. Advice to the government of Uganda, we live in a world where the old regressive system is changing. Sanitary towels and tampons should not be a way for the government to monetize off changes in a woman’s body. These are changes that cannot be controlled so I believe that with all the taxes Ugandans pay, sanitary towels should be free and easily accessible to all women. Toilets in town, offices and restaurants should all have dispensers for this. Let’s support the girl child. It’s the least this country can do for its citizens.

Kampala Story 5, Age 24:

 I was 23 years old. I started my menses when I was out with friends at night in a restaurant. I was uncomfortable since I wasn’t ready for the situation; I hadn’t carried a sanitary towel. I looked for a nearby supermarket and bought pads. This wasn’t hard as I had some money on me. I went back to the restaurant and used the bathroom to clean up and dress up. I did affect the rest of my night because I had stained my clothes and this made me uncomfortable. I would advise availing sanitary towels and making them free and accessible in all public places.