HIV: TUKO drives faithfulness crusade to the marrieds
MEN are known to lead in many spheres of life, but when it comes to remaining faithful in marriage, many of them fail. According to statistics released last week, 60% of new HIV infections were among married people, driven by men engaging in extra marital sex without using condoms.
By Sarah Muwanga
MEN are known to lead in many spheres of life, but when it comes to remaining faithful in marriage, many of them fail. According to statistics released last week, 60% of new HIV infections were among married people, driven by men engaging in extra marital sex without using condoms.
The assessment of HIV prevention under the 2000/01 – 2005/06 national HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework shows that marital unfaithfulness is the leading source of new HIV infections.
As policy makers scratch their heads on how to tackle the challenge, TUKO Club (in full: Tukolere Wamu), which brings together married people to promote faithfulness in marriage, has been at it since 1988.
Zak Tamale, Dr Gordon Sematiko (MP Mityana North), Dr Sam Nsobya and Patrick Kibirango, all former schoolmates, conceived the idea one evening in 1988, when the four young men had met for a drink.
They resolved to legalise their marriages to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS and undertook the task of spreading the gospel of faithfulness to other married people.
Since then, TUKO Club, with offices on Balintuma Road in Mengo, has attracted a membership of about 20 couples and its effort is timely.
Recent reports say about 132,000 new HIV infections were registered in Uganda last year. Sixty percent of these were among married women between 30–34 years and married men between 40–44 years.
“Faithfulness is one of the pillars that keep marriages stable and the best way to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS,†says Lawrence Sekimpi, TUKO’s outgoing chairman and project manager.
He added that current trends show that the disease has shifted from young people to young adults, which calls for special efforts to intensify the promotion of faithfulness among married people.
This year, the club started a ‘Be Faithful’ project to spread faithfulness to couples in Kyenjojo, Bugiri, Wakiso, Nakapiripirit, Mpigi, Bundibugyo, Luweero, Mbarara, Rakai and Kitgum districts.
“We go out and talk to couples and explore their myths and cultural beliefs about HIV/AIDS. During the interaction, we encourage couples to honour their marriage vows,†Sekimpi explains.
Club members, who disseminate information on HIV/AIDS and faithfulness were trained in counselling and communication skills.
To gain more skills, the club collaborates with the office of the First Lady, which developed a training manual on faithfulness. The manual targets trainers of couples and emphasises interactive teaching methods.
The ‘Be Faithful’ project is sponsored by the Uganda Programme for Human and Holistic Development.
Agnes Nalweyo, 45, a farmer in Nambo village, Bugiri district, says her husband would not involve her in planning for the family, but he stopped this after receiving training from TUKO Club members.
Sekimpi contends that with joint planning, couples spend more time together, which reduces the gaps which could lead to unfaithfulness.
To avoid infidelity, couples are taught to understand and appreciate their differences in culture and upbringing. Communication is also emphasised because it is one of the major reasons why some people stray from their spouses.
“We advise couples to talk about problems as they arise and not to keep quite. Many issues can be solved between husband and wife if they aired out,†Sekimpi adds.
The club has trained over 1,500 couples since it started. The programme has a multiplier effect as those trained go ahead to train more couples. The club plans to reach 4,860 couples within a year.
HIV positive couples have also been trained the importance of being faithful to avoid re-infection.
Sekimpi observes that fighting HIV among married people is like hitting two birds with one stone because it reduces the number of babies born with the disease and the number of orphans.
“We are happy that Janet Museveni (the First Lady) is fronting the idea of faithfulness among couples and we appeal to development partners and donors to join her,†he said.
MEN are known to lead in many spheres of life, but when it comes to remaining faithful in marriage, many of them fail. According to statistics released last week, 60% of new HIV infections were among married people, driven by men engaging in extra marital sex without using condoms.
The assessment of HIV prevention under the 2000/01 – 2005/06 national HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework shows that marital unfaithfulness is the leading source of new HIV infections.
As policy makers scratch their heads on how to tackle the challenge, TUKO Club (in full: Tukolere Wamu), which brings together married people to promote faithfulness in marriage, has been at it since 1988.
Zak Tamale, Dr Gordon Sematiko (MP Mityana North), Dr Sam Nsobya and Patrick Kibirango, all former schoolmates, conceived the idea one evening in 1988, when the four young men had met for a drink.
They resolved to legalise their marriages to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS and undertook the task of spreading the gospel of faithfulness to other married people.
Since then, TUKO Club, with offices on Balintuma Road in Mengo, has attracted a membership of about 20 couples and its effort is timely.
Recent reports say about 132,000 new HIV infections were registered in Uganda last year. Sixty percent of these were among married women between 30–34 years and married men between 40–44 years.
“Faithfulness is one of the pillars that keep marriages stable and the best way to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS,†says Lawrence Sekimpi, TUKO’s outgoing chairman and project manager.
He added that current trends show that the disease has shifted from young people to young adults, which calls for special efforts to intensify the promotion of faithfulness among married people.
This year, the club started a ‘Be Faithful’ project to spread faithfulness to couples in Kyenjojo, Bugiri, Wakiso, Nakapiripirit, Mpigi, Bundibugyo, Luweero, Mbarara, Rakai and Kitgum districts.
“We go out and talk to couples and explore their myths and cultural beliefs about HIV/AIDS. During the interaction, we encourage couples to honour their marriage vows,†Sekimpi explains.
Club members, who disseminate information on HIV/AIDS and faithfulness were trained in counselling and communication skills.
To gain more skills, the club collaborates with the office of the First Lady, which developed a training manual on faithfulness. The manual targets trainers of couples and emphasises interactive teaching methods.
The ‘Be Faithful’ project is sponsored by the Uganda Programme for Human and Holistic Development.
Agnes Nalweyo, 45, a farmer in Nambo village, Bugiri district, says her husband would not involve her in planning for the family, but he stopped this after receiving training from TUKO Club members.
Sekimpi contends that with joint planning, couples spend more time together, which reduces the gaps which could lead to unfaithfulness.
To avoid infidelity, couples are taught to understand and appreciate their differences in culture and upbringing. Communication is also emphasised because it is one of the major reasons why some people stray from their spouses.
“We advise couples to talk about problems as they arise and not to keep quite. Many issues can be solved between husband and wife if they aired out,†Sekimpi adds.
The club has trained over 1,500 couples since it started. The programme has a multiplier effect as those trained go ahead to train more couples. The club plans to reach 4,860 couples within a year.
HIV positive couples have also been trained the importance of being faithful to avoid re-infection.
Sekimpi observes that fighting HIV among married people is like hitting two birds with one stone because it reduces the number of babies born with the disease and the number of orphans.
“We are happy that Janet Museveni (the First Lady) is fronting the idea of faithfulness among couples and we appeal to development partners and donors to join her,†he said.