Kyambadde calls for early sexuality education, warns against office romance

Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde has called for early introduction of sexuality education in schools and also warned employed Ugandans against office romance.

Speaking at the 7th annual Full Woman Health Camp, at Kampala Serena Hotel, Ms Kyambadde urged parents to educate their children about sex so that they are not taken advantage of by dodgy people.

 “I had an uncle who used to touch my breasts and other body parts inappropriately but at the time I didn’t know it was harassment,” Ms Kyambadde said as she shared her challenges while growing as a girl child.

She explained that early education in schools can help to prevent and reduce the high rates of teenage pregnancies and child marriages in Uganda which stand at 24 per cent.

“If we educate our children, they will be able to know that it’s wrong for someone to touch some of their body parts,” she said.

Ms Kyambadde cited a wedding ceremony she stopped in her village where a 12-year-old girl was being married off by parents because they had no school fees to educate her.

The minister said the girl she rescued has since excelled in her studies and she is currently in her first year at university.

Ms Kyambadde further said that girls have continued to be forced into sex by their fathers and other relatives but such cases of incest are hardly reported.

She cautioned employers who demand sex from females as a pre-requisite for them to get employment and also warned members of the audience against office romance.

“Why should you meet my daughter in a lodge or somewhere in order for you to give her a job?” Ms Kyambbade wondered. “Just you employing me doesn’t mean you should use my body. Those ones who are here and are going through the same challenges should desist from being subjected to this sexual harassment”.

She said that most women employees endure sexual harassment from their counterparts on a daily basis while at their offices.

Monitor Publications Limited (MPL) Managing director, Tony Glencross asked Full Woman Magazine readers present at the Camp to utilise the opportunity to learn from the experts about various concerns on reproductive health.

“There is much concern about sexuality, the right age to conceive and what to do when one fails to conceive. Let’s take advantage of this camp as an opportunity to learn from experts,” Mr Glencross said, adding that he is a proud father of a six months old baby girl.

He thanked all companies which have partnered with MPL to organise the camp. The sponsors included; Standard Chartered Bank, Jubilee Insurance, Kampala Serena Hotel, International Hospital Kampala, ICEA Group, Radiant Cosmetics and Spark Television.

Earlier, Dembe FM’s Jeniffer Basemera shared her testimony on her struggle to conceive for four years. She told the audience that she tried all sorts of herbal treatments but in vain. It’s not until when she discovered that her cervical canal had been blocked due to infections that she had them treated, later conceived and delivered a baby boy.

Dr Emmanuel Okullu who is the head of obstetrics and gynaecology at IHK, said that there is an improvement in assisted reproduction in the country. He said Uganda currently has seven fertility clinics.

 “Uganda is currently in final touches on the guidelines on assisted reproduction and government has already taken interest and sent health workers for training in India,” he said.

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