BY SAM JUMBWIKE
KAMPALA, Uganda — Saam Salley Humanitarian Ad Agency and Irise Institute East Africa have announced a partnership aimed at promoting menstrual health and preventing female genital mutilation (FGM) among urban forced migrants in Uganda.
The collaboration will be implemented through the Hope and Hygiene Menstrual Health Project, which combines creative humanitarian communication with expertise in menstrual health, gender equality and FGM prevention to address challenges affecting migrant women and girls.
Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Irise Institute East Africa’s Senior Communications, Partnerships and Advocacy Coordinator, Kaitesi Elizabeth, said she was hopeful the project would help address challenges that undermine the dignity, health and wellbeing of migrant women and girls.
Uganda is one of Africa’s leading refugee-hosting countries, with forced migrants in urban areas facing particular vulnerabilities arising from poverty, language barriers, social exclusion and mobility. These challenges are compounded by the persistence of harmful practices, including FGM, particularly during periods of social and cultural transition.
Conflicts in Uganda’s neighbouring countries and across the Horn of Africa have contributed to the arrival of asylum seekers from countries where FGM remains prevalent, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Sudan. Many of these asylum seekers later obtain refugee status in Uganda.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund’s 2025 Profile of Female Genital Mutilation in Eastern and Southern Africa, about 42 million girls and women alive in the two regions have undergone FGM, while an estimated one million girls are subjected to the practice annually.
Women and girls who have undergone FGM can experience long-term physical, psychological and reproductive health challenges. These may include severe menstrual pain, difficulties with menstrual flow, recurrent infections and challenges maintaining menstrual hygiene.
For forced migrants, the situation can be worsened by limited access to menstrual hygiene products, safe sanitation facilities, clean water and culturally appropriate reproductive health services.
Through community-centred approaches, the Hope and Hygiene Project will seek to increase awareness, improve access to reliable menstrual health information and support efforts to prevent FGM.
The initiative is expected to engage urban refugee communities, young people, community leaders and other key stakeholders in promoting menstrual hygiene and creating safer, more supportive environments for women and girls.
The project will also advocate for menstrual justice and period equality, with a focus on ensuring that migrant women and girls can manage their menstrual health with dignity.
Saam Salley’s Team Leader, Jumbwike Sam, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable migrant communities through meaningful, collaborative and respectful interventions.
He said the partnership with Irise Institute East Africa would help deliver appropriate support and create a lasting impact among the communities targeted by the project.
The Hope and Hygiene Project will initially be piloted in Mukono District before being scaled up to other districts within the Kampala metropolitan area.
