Contraceptives are not for children, says Museveni

Jul 07, 2017

He, however, said giving underage children contraceptives is only treating the symptom rather than the root cause of the problem.

President Yoweri Museveni. Photo/File

President Yoweri Museveni has condemned the practice of giving juveniles contraceptives to stop teenage pregnancies in schools. 
 
In the speech read by Ethics state minister Fr. Simon Lokodo, Museveni said contraceptives or family planning is for people who are old enough to plan for their families. 
 
This was during the abstinence celebrations at Uganda Manufacturers Association recently.
 
Museveni noted that a youth who is a minor should be guided and helped accordingly by the parents or guardians to focus on their studies or develop their careers.
 
He, however, said giving underage children contraceptives is only treating the symptom rather than the root cause of the problem. 
 
"More efforts should be put in dealing with the root cause of the problems of teenage pregnancy. That is why I am happy with the organisers of this event who are addressing the root cause of teenage pregnancy by promoting abstinence which is possible and attainable," the President said. 
 
He called on organizations to amend their ways and align themselves and their programs to what will build the youth.
 
"Otherwise the government will have no alternative but to take appropriate measures to safeguard our youth and citizens," he said.
 
Last year, the President also added his voice to members of Parliament from across the political divide calling for the banning of dissemination of sexual education materials in schools. 
 
They argued that some schools are exposing children in lower classes to inappropriate sexual material, which they said had fuelled sexual activities among minors.
 
Eng. Steven Langa, the executive director of Family Life Network, also raised a concern about some parents who pack condoms and pills for their children when they are going back to school. 
 
"This is wrong and a parent who does this is pushing a child to destruction and does not love that child. Let children be children, encourage them to abstain, it is not easy, but it is possible," Langa said 
 
Fr. Lokodo said there are over 20 sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDs, and abstinence is the only effective way to prevent such diseases. 
 
Lokodo echoed Museveni's views, urging Ugandans to denounce fake organisations which start under the guise of helping the vulnerable Ugandans when they have ill intentions of promoting cultures and behaviours that are contrary to Uganda's cultural norms, values and aspirations.

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