By Siraje K. Lubwama
Feb 5, 2004
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KAMPALA � Condoms for women failed to catch on because they were not compatible with our social norms, a government minister has said. �Women condoms were not adopted because of the social norms,� Mr Mike Mukula said on Tuesday while addressing journalists under the Uganda Journalists Association at Old Kampala. �It is like bringing homosexuality here or eating pilipili [red pepper]. Their adaptability�was the problem.� Mukula is the minister of state for Health. He said that despite the failure of the female condom, the male condom did a terrific job last year. He said this forced government to import about 120 million more condoms this year. The minister said that much as Uganda has managed to reduce the spread of HIV/Aids from 30 to 6 percent, putting it ahead of other African countries � 71,000 new infections were recorded last year. �Though our sensitisation is 90 percent, because of the indiscipline and ignorance in our people, we still count two million orphans as a result of this deadly silent disease which is worse than [Joseph] Kony, who is left with only six commanders,� Mukula said. He said there is a plan to construct 868 health units in the entire country and 214 sub district hospitals by 2006. The minister promised to support President Museveni if he seeks re-election in 2006. �We can�t hand over power to drunkards, to people like [James] Rwanyarara and Chapaa Karuhanga who have no constituencies� Mukula added. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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