In a milestone for menstrual health innovation, Cleanette Uganda has officially launched the nation’s first sanitary pad dispenser and vending machine program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming access to menstrual hygiene products for women and girls across the country.
The launch and fundraising event, held at Hotel Africana in Kampala, drew participation from health advocates, policymakers, and civil society leaders committed to advancing menstrual equity. Hosted in partnership with the Miss Uganda Foundation, the initiative reflects a growing national commitment to ending period poverty and normalising menstrual health as a public development priority.
The Cleanette Uganda project introduces locally produced, automated vending machines designed to dispense sanitary pads in schools, hospitals, and public facilities at affordable prices. The machines are part of a broader menstrual health strategy that integrates accessibility, dignity, and education into one framework — ensuring that women and girls, particularly in underserved communities, no longer miss school or work due to lack of menstrual products.
Speaking at the launch, Miss Uganda Organisation representatives commended the initiative’s focus on self-sufficiency and technological innovation, describing it as a “new chapter in Uganda’s journey toward menstrual justice.” The event also highlighted the project’s potential to stimulate local entrepreneurship through pad production and dispenser maintenance, creating both economic and social impact.
Recent studies by UNICEF Uganda show that over 30 percent of adolescent girls in the country miss school monthly due to inadequate menstrual hygiene resources. Cleanette Uganda’s model, which merges digital innovation with social enterprise, aims to significantly reduce that statistic by creating reliable points of access in both urban and rural regions.
The initiative aligns with the Ministry of Health’s Menstrual Hygiene Management Guidelines, launched in 2022, which advocate for comprehensive menstrual health education and sustainable product distribution systems. Cleanette Uganda’s rollout will begin in Kampala before expanding to secondary schools and community centres nationwide.
The event concluded with a call to action for private-sector and donor partnerships to support the expansion of dispenser installations and educational outreach. Guests pledged continued collaboration to ensure that menstrual health becomes a guaranteed right rather than a privilege.
By merging technology, innovation, and advocacy, Cleanette Uganda has positioned itself as a model for African-led solutions in public health — proving that dignity and access can coexist through thoughtful design and local empowerment.
Event held at Hotel Africana, Kampala, Uganda.
