13,500 students choose abstinence, says Janet Museveni
Oct 02, 2006
OVER 13,500 students nationwide have signed for sexual abstinence in the last three months, First Lady Janet Museveni has said.<br>She said this followed a four-month training programme, “No Apologies’ Abstinence Training Curriculum, in seven districts.
By Milton Olupot
OVER 13,500 students nationwide have signed for sexual abstinence in the last three months, First Lady Janet Museveni has said.
She said this followed a four-month training programme, “No Apologies’ Abstinence Training Curriculum, in seven districts.
The Organisation of African First Ladies against AIDS Uganda facilitated the training.
Speaking at the convention at Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala yesterday, Janet said, “Abstinence from premarital sex is possible and achievable.â€
The convention was for student representatives who completed the programme. The function was punctuated by presentations, including educational poems, plays and dances, on the dangers of AIDS and premarital sex.
“Out of 17,612 students who trained in 123 schools in seven districts, 13,564 committed themselves to abstinence,†she said, adding the training would be extended nationwide.
Janet criticised people who advise the youth to use condoms.
“We are not against condoms but this is not a message for the young children. As a mother, I cannot advise my child to use condoms.
Children must wait until they are married. Why hurry to have sex?
“Parents agree with me on this, but there are people who came here and fought out campaigns of abstinence and being faithful to one partner. They used money and shut down some people and confused others, I persisted and Ugandans are seeing the fruits,†she said. Health minister Dr. Stephen Malinga said foreign companies were here to make money by marketing their condoms.
“Be careful about being encouraged to use condoms, those are selling gimmicks.
Condoms have quite a significant failure rate, they are not completely effective. Let nobody tell you young people about condoms and AIDS. Don’t be victims of marketing. Let nobody give you a present of condoms during Christmas,†he said.
He said the youth should re-direct their energies from sex to games and sports. OAFLA director Beat Bisangwa said the programme targets young students not yet sexually active and equips them with self-control skills.
“It is amazing how the students and the school administrations are craving for more,†she said.
The Uganda AIDS Commission chief, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, said AIDS prevalence had reduced among the 15-19 age bracket due to the message of abstinence.
Janet said, “My duty as a mother is to encourage each of you to keep on the right path of life that you have started.â€
OVER 13,500 students nationwide have signed for sexual abstinence in the last three months, First Lady Janet Museveni has said.
She said this followed a four-month training programme, “No Apologies’ Abstinence Training Curriculum, in seven districts.
The Organisation of African First Ladies against AIDS Uganda facilitated the training.
Speaking at the convention at Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala yesterday, Janet said, “Abstinence from premarital sex is possible and achievable.â€
The convention was for student representatives who completed the programme. The function was punctuated by presentations, including educational poems, plays and dances, on the dangers of AIDS and premarital sex.
“Out of 17,612 students who trained in 123 schools in seven districts, 13,564 committed themselves to abstinence,†she said, adding the training would be extended nationwide.
Janet criticised people who advise the youth to use condoms.
“We are not against condoms but this is not a message for the young children. As a mother, I cannot advise my child to use condoms.
Children must wait until they are married. Why hurry to have sex?
“Parents agree with me on this, but there are people who came here and fought out campaigns of abstinence and being faithful to one partner. They used money and shut down some people and confused others, I persisted and Ugandans are seeing the fruits,†she said. Health minister Dr. Stephen Malinga said foreign companies were here to make money by marketing their condoms.
“Be careful about being encouraged to use condoms, those are selling gimmicks.
Condoms have quite a significant failure rate, they are not completely effective. Let nobody tell you young people about condoms and AIDS. Don’t be victims of marketing. Let nobody give you a present of condoms during Christmas,†he said.
He said the youth should re-direct their energies from sex to games and sports. OAFLA director Beat Bisangwa said the programme targets young students not yet sexually active and equips them with self-control skills.
“It is amazing how the students and the school administrations are craving for more,†she said.
The Uganda AIDS Commission chief, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, said AIDS prevalence had reduced among the 15-19 age bracket due to the message of abstinence.
Janet said, “My duty as a mother is to encourage each of you to keep on the right path of life that you have started.â€