Bugiri defilement cases increase
Jan 25, 2009
AT least 237 girls were defiled in Bugiri district last year, the resident district commissioner (RDC), Margaret Mwanamoiza, has said.
By Moses Bikala
AT least 237 girls were defiled in Bugiri district last year, the resident district commissioner (RDC), Margaret Mwanamoiza, has said.
Speaking at a meeting for the youth on reproductive health, Mwanamoiza said 50% of the girls had had sex with men aged between 20 and 25, 18% had sex with men between 25 and 29 years and 9% had it with men above 30 years.
The meeting was organised by the Straight Talk Foundation at the district chambers on Thursday.
“Kirongo area is the most affected,†Mwanamoiza said.
She said teenage pregnancies were on the increase and attributed it to girls starting to have sex too early. Mwanamoiza appealed to parents to spare time to talk to their children on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
Beatrice Bainomugisha from the Straight Talk Foundation said the HIV prevalence among adults, especially married people, was higher than in other age groups.
She urged parents to speak openly to children about sexually transmitted diseases, saying this could help them make correct decisions.
The district inspector of schools, Kawo Nayi Kawere, said there was a high school drop-out rate in the district.
He said 305 registered candidates failed to sit for their primary leaving examinations last year. A total of 153 of them, he said, were girls.
Kawere said there was need to sensitise parents about the benefits of education as most of them did not take it seriously.
The public health officer, Sr. Zebby Kasira, said the district was facing an acute shortage of trained doctors, which was affecting service delivery.
“The district has only eight doctors. The ratio currently is 1 doctor to 80,271 patients. This is too much,†she said.
Kasira said Bugiri Hospital admits over 180 patients daily and about 200 patients attend the out-patients department daily.
She said staff shortage had led to long queues and overcrowding.
AT least 237 girls were defiled in Bugiri district last year, the resident district commissioner (RDC), Margaret Mwanamoiza, has said.
Speaking at a meeting for the youth on reproductive health, Mwanamoiza said 50% of the girls had had sex with men aged between 20 and 25, 18% had sex with men between 25 and 29 years and 9% had it with men above 30 years.
The meeting was organised by the Straight Talk Foundation at the district chambers on Thursday.
“Kirongo area is the most affected,†Mwanamoiza said.
She said teenage pregnancies were on the increase and attributed it to girls starting to have sex too early. Mwanamoiza appealed to parents to spare time to talk to their children on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
Beatrice Bainomugisha from the Straight Talk Foundation said the HIV prevalence among adults, especially married people, was higher than in other age groups.
She urged parents to speak openly to children about sexually transmitted diseases, saying this could help them make correct decisions.
The district inspector of schools, Kawo Nayi Kawere, said there was a high school drop-out rate in the district.
He said 305 registered candidates failed to sit for their primary leaving examinations last year. A total of 153 of them, he said, were girls.
Kawere said there was need to sensitise parents about the benefits of education as most of them did not take it seriously.
The public health officer, Sr. Zebby Kasira, said the district was facing an acute shortage of trained doctors, which was affecting service delivery.
“The district has only eight doctors. The ratio currently is 1 doctor to 80,271 patients. This is too much,†she said.
Kasira said Bugiri Hospital admits over 180 patients daily and about 200 patients attend the out-patients department daily.
She said staff shortage had led to long queues and overcrowding.