Museveni warns on male circumcision
Jul 04, 2011
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has cautioned Ugandans not to consider male circumcision as the remedy and automatic control of HIV/AIDS infection.
By Vision Reporter
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has cautioned Ugandans not to consider male circumcision as the remedy and automatic control of HIV/AIDS infection.
He said messages promoting the practice were misguiding and may put the lives of many people in danger since it had not been proven to be scientifically true.
The President made the remarks during a thanksgiving service organised by the First Lady and Ruhaama MP, Janet Museveni, to thank the Lord for her landslide victory in the February polls.
The function was held at Ruhaama sub-county headquarters in Ruhaama county, Ntungamo district on Saturday.
He said if male circumcision was the answer to HIV prevention, then Ugandans who conduct circumcision as a traditional belief or a religious practice would not contract the disease.
He, however, said there is proof that these people had contracted HIV and the disease prevails in their communities.
The President emphasised abstinence from premarital sex and faithfulness in marriage as the guarantee to a life free from HIV.
During the function, Museveni highlighted the Government’s commitment to ensuring food security in homesteads and overcoming household poverty in the next five years.
Others are to develop major infrastructure and ensure excellent service delivery.
He warned government officials charged with supervision of government programmes at the grassroots and service delivery in health centres, that they risk punitive action if they are found to be negligent.
The President commended the people of Ruhaama for voting the NRM in the February elections.
He particularly thanked them for overwhelmingly voting Mrs. Museveni back into Parliament. Mrs. Museveni got 86% of the votes cast, trouncing her three challengers in the race.
The President said although he was originally opposed to her joining politics, Mrs. Museveni had proved to be a great asset to the NRM and the country.
He cited her contribution to development and fostering unity in her constituency and her clear ideology that looks at leadership as a sacrifice and not a source of income.
Mrs. Museveni, on her part, greatly thanked the people of Ruhaama and Ntungamo for being trustworthy and keeping their promises manifested by their voting patterns.
She commended the leaders of Ruhaama for embracing her ideology which emphasises service beyond self and selflessness in serving one’s nation.
Mrs. Museveni asked leaders to emulate the example of the freedom fighters who liberated Uganda, saying they risked their lives without pay and no guarantee of safety.
She thanked the President for sparing time out of his busy schedule to attend the occasion.
Mrs. Museveni encouraged the people of Ruhaama to use these five years to give glory to God and unite in building the foundation laid in the last term.
Former Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi said Mrs. Museveni, while state minister for Karamoja affairs, exhibited excellent management and supervisory skills that put her among the best ministers in the Government.
Nsibambi further thanked Museveni for giving him the opportunity to contribute to shaping the destiny of Uganda for the 15 years when he served the country both as minister and Prime Minister.
The main celebrant, Bishop Yona Katonene of West Ankole Diocese, said God appoints and anoints leaders at different times for different purposes.
He said leaders are worthwhile since they are God-sent.
Katonene commended the President and Mrs. Museveni for being leaders who know God and said Uganda was blessed to have them.
Katonene applauded Mrs. Museveni for her passion for the youth and children, her care for the vulnerable and her encouragement of the youth to fight HIV by abstaining from sex before marriage.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has cautioned Ugandans not to consider male circumcision as the remedy and automatic control of HIV/AIDS infection.
He said messages promoting the practice were misguiding and may put the lives of many people in danger since it had not been proven to be scientifically true.
The President made the remarks during a thanksgiving service organised by the First Lady and Ruhaama MP, Janet Museveni, to thank the Lord for her landslide victory in the February polls.
The function was held at Ruhaama sub-county headquarters in Ruhaama county, Ntungamo district on Saturday.
He said if male circumcision was the answer to HIV prevention, then Ugandans who conduct circumcision as a traditional belief or a religious practice would not contract the disease.
He, however, said there is proof that these people had contracted HIV and the disease prevails in their communities.
The President emphasised abstinence from premarital sex and faithfulness in marriage as the guarantee to a life free from HIV.
During the function, Museveni highlighted the Government’s commitment to ensuring food security in homesteads and overcoming household poverty in the next five years.
Others are to develop major infrastructure and ensure excellent service delivery.
He warned government officials charged with supervision of government programmes at the grassroots and service delivery in health centres, that they risk punitive action if they are found to be negligent.
The President commended the people of Ruhaama for voting the NRM in the February elections.
He particularly thanked them for overwhelmingly voting Mrs. Museveni back into Parliament. Mrs. Museveni got 86% of the votes cast, trouncing her three challengers in the race.
The President said although he was originally opposed to her joining politics, Mrs. Museveni had proved to be a great asset to the NRM and the country.
He cited her contribution to development and fostering unity in her constituency and her clear ideology that looks at leadership as a sacrifice and not a source of income.
Mrs. Museveni, on her part, greatly thanked the people of Ruhaama and Ntungamo for being trustworthy and keeping their promises manifested by their voting patterns.
She commended the leaders of Ruhaama for embracing her ideology which emphasises service beyond self and selflessness in serving one’s nation.
Mrs. Museveni asked leaders to emulate the example of the freedom fighters who liberated Uganda, saying they risked their lives without pay and no guarantee of safety.
She thanked the President for sparing time out of his busy schedule to attend the occasion.
Mrs. Museveni encouraged the people of Ruhaama to use these five years to give glory to God and unite in building the foundation laid in the last term.
Former Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi said Mrs. Museveni, while state minister for Karamoja affairs, exhibited excellent management and supervisory skills that put her among the best ministers in the Government.
Nsibambi further thanked Museveni for giving him the opportunity to contribute to shaping the destiny of Uganda for the 15 years when he served the country both as minister and Prime Minister.
The main celebrant, Bishop Yona Katonene of West Ankole Diocese, said God appoints and anoints leaders at different times for different purposes.
He said leaders are worthwhile since they are God-sent.
Katonene commended the President and Mrs. Museveni for being leaders who know God and said Uganda was blessed to have them.
Katonene applauded Mrs. Museveni for her passion for the youth and children, her care for the vulnerable and her encouragement of the youth to fight HIV by abstaining from sex before marriage.