HIV: Govt tips cultural institutions on responsible parenting

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The Government says it is working with cultural institutions to strengthen the institution of the family amid rising HIV infections among the youth. According to gender minister, Betty Amongi, the institutions are being urged to return to their roots and emphasize norms and values in teaching about sexuality.

"They need to readopt the traditional grooming practices that were used to prepare children for adulthood and prioritise sex education for adolescents and young people, " she said, adding: "We believe that by doing so we can counteract the vices that put their subjects at risk of contracting HIV".

She said: "Most adults passed through this grooming" but are too shy to talk about it with their children.

She made the remarks in a speech read for her at the launch of the National HIV and AIDS Action Plan for cultural and traditional leaders in Uganda.

Presided over by Kampala minister, Hajat Minsa Kabanda, the event at Imperial Royale Hotel on September 25, 2024 and was attended by representatives from cultural institutions, religious leaders and the general public.  

Statistics from the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) show that Uganda currently has a total of 1.47 million people living with HIV and is experiencing at least 38,000 new infections every year. Most of the new infections have been reported among youthful populations.

Fort Portal city has the highest HIV prevalence, currently estimated at 14.5 per cent, yet the national average now stands at 5.1 per cent.

According to UAC, Uganda’s HIV epidemic is geographically diverse, ranging from a prevalence of 8.7 per cent in South Buganda to 2.3 percent in West Nile.

“I reiterate my call to all stakeholders to heed the President’s directive to end HIV in Uganda,” she said, adding that as head of families, fathers should take the lead in guiding their children.

She noted that, it is families where good parenting has been lacking that have seen the most cases of teenage pregnancies, a predisposing factor to high infections.

According to her, 80 per cent of new infections among young people were adolescent girls, representing four out of five.