The Government has blamed Human Rights Organisations for failing to address issues of immorality in Uganda.
The state minister for ethics and integrity Rev. Father Simon Lokodo says Human Rights Organisations are particularly failing his ministry through interfering in government efforts to rid the country of sex workers.
The Ethics and Integrity minister has continued to discourage the use of condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS saying it is another way of promoting promiscuity.
Father Lokodo says the HIV prevalence rate which currently stands at 7.3 percent is being fueled by groups like sex workers and others involved in high risk activities. He says of the 1.6 million Ugandans living with HIV, an estimated 170,000 are children between the ages of ten and 17 urging the community to support government efforts in addressing issues of immorality.
Fr. Lokodo’s comments however contradict the country’s approach to HIV which involves abstinence, being faithful and condom use.
Although some members agreed with the minister, Mr. Humphrey Namibanya, the team leader at Reach a Hand Uganda said condom use should be a choice of an individual.
He was addressing members of the parliamentary standing committee on HIV/AIDS from Tanzania at the Uganda Aids Commission Headquarters. The members are there for a three day visit for knowledge sharing on the fight of the HIV/AIDS.