Mzee Kaddu uses tea to fight reckless sexual behaviour
Dec 06, 2009
A mere mention of the name ‘Turn-To-Tea’ in Nkokonjeru town council is enough to find out more about the HIV/AIDS activist behind the club. Based in Mayirikiti village, Nkokonjeru Town Council, Mukono district, Turn-To-Tea is a programme that encourag
By Chris Kiwawulo
FACT FILE
Name: Wasswa Kaddu
Age: 77
Location: Mayirikiti, Nkokonjeru, Mukono district
Contribution: Founded the Turn-To-Tea that advocates the use of beverages, instead of alcohol
Contacts: 0777394655
A mere mention of the name ‘Turn-To-Tea’ in Nkokonjeru town council is enough to find out more about the HIV/AIDS activist behind the club. Based in Mayirikiti village, Nkokonjeru Town Council, Mukono district, Turn-To-Tea is a programme that encourages the use of beverages, especially tea, at parties instead of alcohol.
The programme fights risky sexual behaviour that exposes people to HIV/AIDS.
John Wasswa Kaddu, 77, the brain behind the club, started the programme after losing 10 children to HIV between 1989 and 1993.
“All my 10 children had multiple sexual partners and would drink a lot. When they died, I realised that alcohol had a lot to do with the HIV spread and designed a programme to tackle this,†he says.
Kaddu says the programme, which has silently existed since 1984, supplements the Government’s ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful and Condom use) strategy.
“The ABC strategy, does not tackle alcohol abuse. Much as some people use condoms, chances are high that they will abandon them after taking alcohol or fail to use them properly,†Kaddu observes.
He says the Government has spent billions of shillings on the ABC strategy, forgetting that people get sexually aroused after taking alcohol.
Stephen Muluya, the club leader at St. Peter’s SS Nkokonjeru, says the programme has helped them turn away from alcohol.
“When one is under the influence of alcohol, he can do a lot of things, including engaging in unprotected sex,†says Muluya, a Senior Five student.
The head teacher, Sr. Antonia Namuli, says the club has helped her students, many of whom are adolescents, to shun alcohol.
The programme is also doing wonders in four other education institutions, including Nkokonjeru Institute of Management and Makerere University in Kampala.
Besides rolling out the club, Kaddu also counsels HIV patients.
Background
Born to Matilda Boolamubiri and Maurice Kaddu-Musindye (RIP) of Mayirikiti, Nkokonjeru, kaddu attended St. Peter Clever Primary School in Namilyango, St. Paul’s Primary School, before joining St. Peter’s SS, Nkokonjeru, where he completed his Junior Two and dropped out of school due to lack of fees.
He worked with several organisations, including Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Standard Bank and ESSO petroleum company, before founding the Turn- to-Tea NGO.
One of the project beneficiaries, Godfrey Bengo, 52, says: “We use tea parties to pass on HIV/AIDS messages. Even when you take 10 cups of tea, your brain remains light, unlike someone who takes two beers.â€
HIV award winners’ selection and prize-giving ceremony postponed to a later date to be announced
FACT FILE
Name: Wasswa Kaddu
Age: 77
Location: Mayirikiti, Nkokonjeru, Mukono district
Contribution: Founded the Turn-To-Tea that advocates the use of beverages, instead of alcohol
Contacts: 0777394655
A mere mention of the name ‘Turn-To-Tea’ in Nkokonjeru town council is enough to find out more about the HIV/AIDS activist behind the club. Based in Mayirikiti village, Nkokonjeru Town Council, Mukono district, Turn-To-Tea is a programme that encourages the use of beverages, especially tea, at parties instead of alcohol.
The programme fights risky sexual behaviour that exposes people to HIV/AIDS.
John Wasswa Kaddu, 77, the brain behind the club, started the programme after losing 10 children to HIV between 1989 and 1993.
“All my 10 children had multiple sexual partners and would drink a lot. When they died, I realised that alcohol had a lot to do with the HIV spread and designed a programme to tackle this,†he says.
Kaddu says the programme, which has silently existed since 1984, supplements the Government’s ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful and Condom use) strategy.
“The ABC strategy, does not tackle alcohol abuse. Much as some people use condoms, chances are high that they will abandon them after taking alcohol or fail to use them properly,†Kaddu observes.
He says the Government has spent billions of shillings on the ABC strategy, forgetting that people get sexually aroused after taking alcohol.
Stephen Muluya, the club leader at St. Peter’s SS Nkokonjeru, says the programme has helped them turn away from alcohol.
“When one is under the influence of alcohol, he can do a lot of things, including engaging in unprotected sex,†says Muluya, a Senior Five student.
The head teacher, Sr. Antonia Namuli, says the club has helped her students, many of whom are adolescents, to shun alcohol.
The programme is also doing wonders in four other education institutions, including Nkokonjeru Institute of Management and Makerere University in Kampala.
Besides rolling out the club, Kaddu also counsels HIV patients.
Background
Born to Matilda Boolamubiri and Maurice Kaddu-Musindye (RIP) of Mayirikiti, Nkokonjeru, kaddu attended St. Peter Clever Primary School in Namilyango, St. Paul’s Primary School, before joining St. Peter’s SS, Nkokonjeru, where he completed his Junior Two and dropped out of school due to lack of fees.
He worked with several organisations, including Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Standard Bank and ESSO petroleum company, before founding the Turn- to-Tea NGO.
One of the project beneficiaries, Godfrey Bengo, 52, says: “We use tea parties to pass on HIV/AIDS messages. Even when you take 10 cups of tea, your brain remains light, unlike someone who takes two beers.â€
HIV award winners’ selection and prize-giving ceremony postponed to a later date to be announced