Museveni urges parents to counsel children

President Museveni has criticised parents who do not counsel their children against early sexual relationships, which contribute to the spread of HIV/Aids.
Speaking to a congregation at Kazo Church of Uganda in Kiruhura District on Tuesday, the President blamed the resurgence of HIV/Aids on failure to abstain and the false belief that circumcision guarantees immunity.

Mr Museveni said he has always promoted abstinence and faithfulness but when he got busy, some people came in and misled the public into circumcision.

“Does circumcising make your body a metal? I know Muslims who have died of Aids. The Bagisu and Bakonzo circumcise but I know some who have died of Aids,” Mr Museveni said, urging religious leaders to revive preaching against HIV.

He said although there were drugs to prolong the lifespan of people living with HIV, they remain unproductive for the rest of their life because their bodies are weak.

“What is this girlfriend thing? That’s prostitution! Are you wedded? You have to tell your children to wait until they marry.”

On the East Coast Fever disease which has claimed about 6,000 cattle, Mr Museveni blamed the persistence of the disease to poor spraying practices.

He said all people with cows irrespective of the number should have spraying crashes and those with many should use dip tanks.