World Vision Uganda team receives a dummy cheque of Shs100m from Absa Bank to enhance menstrual hygiene management in eastern and northern Uganda. PHOTO/SYLVIA KATUSHABE
From bicycles to sanitary pads, improved school infrastructure to support for girls with disabilities, the Absa KH3_7 Hills Run is transforming the lives of Uganda’s most vulnerable girls one stride at a time. Absa Bank Uganda, through its annual charity event, the Absa KH3_7 Hills Run, is making significant strides in helping vulnerable girls stay in school. Held in partnership with Kampala Hash House Harriers and other organisations, the run aims to improve access to education and health services for girls across the country. Michael Segwaya, the executive director and chief finance officer at Absa Bank Uganda, revealed that since the event’s inception in 2023, a total of Shs900 million has been raised.
“These funds have been used to implement impactful programmes across Uganda to keep girls in school, improve menstrual hygiene, provide access to clean and safe water, enhance school infrastructure, and support vulnerable girls with skills and transportation,” he explained. Segwaya said more than 10,843 girls have so far benefited through partner organisations such as Amref Health Africa and World Vision. At Awach Primary School in Abim District, reusable sanitary pads were distributed and new sanitation facilities were built, affecting 5,700 people, including 897 girls. In partnership with Windle International, the initiative provided 266 bicycles to girls in rural refugee settlements, helping them overcome the challenge of long and often unsafe journeys to school. This intervention has reduced absenteeism and the risk of school dropout among girls in remote areas.
Testimonies
One of the beneficiaries, Janet Oleyo, a Senior Five student at Kiryandongo High School, shared how the programme changed her academic experience. “Absa Bank, through Windle International, gave us bicycles and scholastic materials such as books and pens,” she said. “They provided bicycles to most students whose homes are far from school, helping us arrive early and on time because our home is too far.” For Christine Akankwasa, a Primary Seven pupil at Nyaka Primary School in Rukungiri District, through the Nyaka Aids Orphans Project, which supports children orphaned by HIV/Aids, she now receives free education, basic needs, scholastic materials, and sanitary towels. “I am grateful to the organisation for supporting me and other girls. We are healthy because they take good care of us,” Akankwasa said. She had previously lived with her grandmother, who could not afford tuition or provide basics for her siblings.
Officials from Windle International and beneficiaries from Kiryandongo High School display some of the renewable bags that come along with reusable sanitary towels and latent that are given to vulnerable girls, on June 18, 2025. PHOTO/ SYLIVIA KATUSHABE
Victoria Nakafeero, a student at Kyambogo University and a person with disability, says through Katalemwa Cheshire Home, she receives support tailored to her needs. “When I got impaired, they stepped in. Now they cover my tuition, accommodation, and living expenses,” Nakafeero said. This year, Absa has raised Shs400m through the 2025 edition of their run. The funds were distributed to supporting organisations to implement transformative initiatives. The recipients included World Vision – Shs100m; Windle International – Shs60m; Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation – Shs50m; Nyaka Aids Orphans Project – Shs50m; Amref Health Africa – Shs50m; Willow International – Shs50m;Katalemwa Cheshire Home – Shs40m; and Smart Girls Uganda – Shs60m.
“The Absa KH3_7 Hills Run is more than a race. It is a platform to change lives. Through our collective action, we are accelerating progress toward a just and inclusive future, especially for young girls who face tremendous barriers to education,” Segwaya noted. “This initiative aligns with our purpose of being an active force for good and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 5 on gender equality.” World Vision Uganda’s national director Jeremiah Nyagah praised the initiative. He explained that with Absa funding, they have improved learning environment for girls at Barotuke Primary School in Karamoja.
“We have trained girls, teachers, and parents in making reusable sanitary pads, established inclusive changing rooms for girls, increased access to clean water for hygiene needs, and tackled negative social norms around menstruation,” Nyagah said. He noted that over the past two years, 4,825 pupils, including 2,283 girls, have benefited from improved hygiene and sanitation under the funding. “We saw a reduction in dropout rates and a rise in retention and academic performance among girls. Teenage pregnancies declined, and menstruation is now openly discussed and accepted,” he said.
Future
Nyagah said new funding will be directed to more schools in Abim District to address education barriers for girls with disabilities. The initiative will cover schools in Abim Sub-county, Karamoja, including Arembwola Primary School, Kanu Primary School, and Oryeotyene Primary School alongside outreach to women in nearby communities. “Together, we are not just keeping girls in school, we are giving them dignity, confidence, and the opportunity to thrive. Let us continue this journey to ensure no girl is left behind,” Nyagah concluded.
