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KAMPALA - Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda has tasked the Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, to compile a report on condom use in Uganda including concerns about the small sizes on the market.

The report, Tayebwa said will educate the public on condom use, ahead of the commemoration of World Condom Day set for today Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

In a brief response, Aceng explained to legislators that her ministry calendar includes National Condoms Day held to purposely sensitize the public on the importance of using condoms and highlight their effectiveness in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDs and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

"People know about condoms, but many don’t use them for protection. We have the National Condoms Day commemorated annually. This day is held as an advocacy to remind people to use condoms for protection," said Aceng as she drew mixed reactions from the House.

The report, Tayebwa said will educate the public on condom use, ahead of the commemoration of World Condom Day set for today Tuesday, February 13, 2024. (New Vision/Files)

Some MPs laughed out loud while others looked on visibility bemused.

She was responding to concerns by some legislators who had questioned why such a day is a priority.

Giving the minister one week to report back to Parliament,  the deputy Speaker added,
"On a very serious note, protection is one of the preventive measures promoted by Government and I don’t know why colleagues you are laughing, only that it is a day I have never heard of being celebrated. 

But I think, Parliament is a platform which we use to inform & educate the public about those issues, so Minister, bring a statement on this" said that the Deputy Speaker.

Aceng explained to legislators that her ministry calendar includes National Condoms Day held to purposely sensitize the public on the importance of using condoms and highlight their effectiveness in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDs and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

This year the health ministry is partnering with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to mark the International Condom Day (ICD).

International condom day is a global advocacy and awareness day that serves to promote the use of condoms as a means of preventing the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV and avoiding unintended pregnancies.

In a report released on Monday, AHF Project Coordinator Martha Mbabazi Ataye said that between 25-29 years old youths, about 38% of people currently use condoms in Uganda today.

She, however, revealed,  that, "amongst women aged 24-25 years old, the condom use is too low and more than 8,000 girls got pregnant during COVID-19 lockdown."

According to Mbabazi, the "importance of condom must be emphasized since  it is currently one of the cheapest and affordable tools for prevention of HIV and other STIs and prevention of early pregnancies.”