The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening quality standards and advocating for policy reforms aimed at improving access to safe and affordable menstrual health products in Uganda.
This was highlighted during a two-day Menstrual Hygiene Symposium held on April 8–9, 2026, in Kampala, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. The symposium brought together over 100 stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and development partners to foster dialogue on standards development and regulatory reforms within the menstrual health sector.
Aziz Mukota, Manager for Testing Services at UNBS, emphasised the critical role of standards in safeguarding public health and ensuring product quality. He noted that menstrual health management is a matter of human rights, dignity, health, and gender equity, adding that UNBS remains committed to ensuring all menstrual products on the market comply with relevant national standards.
Currently, UNBS has developed several menstrual health standards, including US EAS 96:2024 for disposable sanitary towels (third edition), US 1782:2017 for reusable sanitary towels (first edition), US 2381:2023 for reusable menstrual cups (first edition), and US 2863:2023 for tampons (first edition), all aimed at ensuring safety and quality across products available in the market.
The symposium comes at a time when Uganda is actively contributing to the development of global standards for menstrual products through its participation in ISO Technical Committee 338, which focuses on both single-use and reusable products. UNBS, through its Technical Committee UNBS/TC 315 on textiles and related products, continues to play a key role in advancing this process.
Participants discussed strategies to strengthen Uganda’s contribution to international standards, advocate for tax and regulatory reforms to lower the cost of menstrual products, promote local manufacturing of quality-assured products, and enhance collaboration among stakeholders to improve access—particularly for underserved communities.
Insights shared during the symposium revealed that many girls in Uganda miss school due to limited access to affordable menstrual products and inadequate sanitation facilities. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated approach that integrates policy reform, standards enforcement, and market development.
UNBS reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), development partners, and private sector players to promote innovation, research, and the production of high-quality menstrual health products. Mukota added that the organisation will continue to support the development, promotion, and enforcement of standards while fostering an enabling environment for innovation and investment in menstrual health solutions, with the goal of protecting consumers, facilitating trade, and improving the well-being of all Ugandans.
The symposium forms part of a broader regional initiative under the “Menstrual Health & Hygiene: Unlocking Women’s Power” programme, which aims to strengthen regulatory and policy environments across multiple African countries.
