HIV basics:
You want to reduce your pubic
hair? You need it shorter?
Shaving with a razorblade may
create tiny cuts which, if exposed
to blood, semen or vaginal fluids,
may act as a channel through
which HIV will enter your body
if you have sex with an infected
person. Short sharp hairs may also make
holes in a condom. Instead of shaving with a
razorblade, use a pair of scissors to avoid cuts
as you trim your pubic hair. Musoke Nassir,
AIDS Information Centre, Kampala
Risky
fishing villages
Aventino Bakunda, Ministry of Agriculture senior fisheries
officer, says: "Our 660 landing sites are hot spots for HIV.
People are highly mobile and stay far away from their spouses.
However, prostitution is reducing due to the decline in fish."
When night falls in fishing
villages, fishermen set off
in boats to cast their nets.
Early morning they return Sex
with their catch. Those is commonly
who fish in the morning in exchange
then set off. After selling for fish and
fish, some fishermen spend money
their money on alcohol and
sex before they go to sleep.
They wake up, have alot of food and drink
before going back to fish. Landing sites
are busy 24 hours a day!
AIDS was first discovered in Uganda in a
fishing village on Lake Victoria in Rakai.
Today, the rate at which HIV is spreading
in fishing villages is three times higher
than the national average. HIV travels
fast in fishing villages because of the
sexual behaviour. George Olupot of
Pingire landing site, Soroti, says: "Most
people have at least two partners. Fisher-
Smashing that tennis ball
Duncan Mugabe
is Uganda's top tennis star.
Now ranked 681 in the
entire world. He started
playing tennis at 8 by
hitting the ball against
the wall. He played his
first competitive match
at 13.
Since then he has played for
Uganda in Italy, France, USA,
South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria
and Kenya. One of eight children,
he uses the cash prizes to help pay
for his sisters' school fees. But playing
Landing sites are
busy 24 hours a
9
ber, 200 day! HIV travels fast
o.10 Octo
Vol.15 N here because of the
sexual behaviour.
Akiteng
men usually say that when you are on the
lake fishing, the woman you left behind is
not yours. Someone else is with her." 18, of Kagwara
landing site, Soroti,
Many fishermen are young people like says: "I sell silver fish (Mukene). I
you. Chris, 17, who lives in Ntoroko, says have bought goats out of my savings
he catches 10kg of fish a day and sells I like this place because of business.
.
a kg at 2000/=. “I use the money to buy girls change men like clothes. They
But
say
girls. I don’t use condoms. I don’t fear AIDS is not supposed to kill trees, but
HIV. If I don’t die of AIDS, I will die of human beings. Men use money to
another disease. Fishing is a risk. I can trap girls. There is a man who
fall in the lake. I have to enjoy life when sent me 20,000/= but I
I can. I came from Fort Portal to make refused it."
money. There are condoms in shops but I
don’t know their prices. The price for girls
is between 2000/= and 5000/=."
Straight Talk's Dr Paul Semugoma says:
“It is good to get money, Chris. But you
Star l
have a brigh future ahead . Yes, we will
all die. But you don’t want to get HIV. You
don’t want to die of it or give it to your
lovers. Prevent yourself from getting it." sc h o o horwa.
i SS, Kapc
is Sip er
highest numb
They sent the u
lett e rs) Yo
of letters.(95
n et b al l and football
win a
ou are, write
Wherever y
lk, 22366
to Straight Ta a
Kampal
tennis has not stopped this tall
and handsome boy from having
a girlfriend. "She is the most "Sex at an early age is self-
beautiful person I have ever destructive," says the tennis
met," says Duncan. "My parents champion. "When you build a house,
you don’t make its foundation weak.
know her. We are abstaining.
So don’t rush. When the right time
In a relationship, bonds are not
made strong by sex but by talking comes, you will have no regrets."
and getting to know each other
well. Mugabe won a scholarship Duncan, who wants to study
to South Africa tennis academy, business at university, adds: "I don’t
Clapham High School, from listen to friends who say you are
where he sat his final secondary not a real man if you are not having
exams at 17. He always puts first sex. Real men are not defined by
things first. "I would only go for having sex. Having a child at 16 is
competitions when I did not have ashaming. At this age you can’t even
tests or exams." take care of yourself."
2 Straight Talk, October 2009

Fishing for solutions

"I understood my poor
background and avoided
wrong groups."

Some Straight Talkers are stayed safe because I understood my

fishermen or live in fishing
villages. Although the
environment is dangerious,
they have chosen to make
money and use it well without
exposing themselves to HIV.
poor background. I avoided wrong
groups. They said I was miser (mean)
and that I was keeping my money to
buy an airplane. I ignored them and
worked towards my goals. Now am
in S6 and hope to hammer it.

In May, Straight Talk asked you "Mwaka C, of Kiboga Progressive

about fishing villages. You sent SS, fishes on Lake Albert in the
us 25 letters. Most holidays. He is still
of you said you a virgin. He says
use the money for fishing pays but is
fees. Way to go, dangerious. "There
guys! You all win are many prostitutes
ST T-shirts around Lake Albert.
Some force men into
Olwa S, studies sex."
in Kyambogo
College School, Well done, fishing
Kampala. He guys. Good luck with
fishes on Lake hammering your
Kyoga and Kwania exams.
during holidays
to earn for his Girls at land sites
fees and school can also manage

QUIZ
requirements. the difficult
He says: “Money environment. Apio
from fishing is J, 16, is in S3 at
alot. When you Highfield HS, lives
Fishwinhgat vyil : is
lageein
are not focused, at Serere landing
ou se th
Describe places
identify riskytu
you spend it on site.She says: "I resist
discos, in lodges the sexual advances picture and n this pic htre.
and taking drugs. Felix Oyuku, 18, Apac S S, from men." and actio s in
ription to Straig
You can get HIV. I fishes to get school fees, cloth. Send your desc la
Talk, 22366, Kampa

Invest your money from fishing Protect fishing

stocks too
If you tap into natural resources like
It is easy to spend money. But we need to save and grow it.
The Director of Youth Efforts in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS fish from a lake, use them well. As-
and Poverty (YEFAAP), Innocent Matyoli, works in fishing sistant Commissioner of Fisheries,
communities in Bugiri. He says: "Use money from fishing to Lovelock Wadanya, says do not use
do piggery, poultry, bee keeping and brick laying. Save in small nets whose gaps are under 4.5
a cooperative scheme instead of spending on useless and inches. They are illegal. The right net
unhealthy things. Start by saving as little as 100/= a day." should trap fish which is not less than
50cms for Nile perch and 21 inches
Ali Afula, 17, S3, Tubur SS in Soroti, says: for tilapia. Fishing nets with little gaps
"I’m a business and fisherman. I get about 12,000/= a day trap and kill baby fish, reducing fish in
from fishing. I use 5000/= and save the rest. I have opened our lakes. Uganda used to have over
a shop with my savings. Every week, I buy goats from the 200 species of fish, but now only six
market for sale." are available. Of these, tilapia and Nile
Remember: If you are sexually active, also use some of your perch are much smaller than they once
earning to buy condoms. Protect your life, for it has no spare! were. Cat fish, lung fish, mud fish and
enkegge are becoming rare.

The diary of a young positive

Jane has been
unwell. So we bring
you Joe,18, who is
also living with HIV.
"I have five brothers and one sister.
I am the only one born with HIV.
After we lost dad and then mom, my
grandmother took care of us.
I got to know I had HIV in senior one.
When they told me, I grew thin and
disorganized. It would have been
easier if my parents had told me. I
would have asked them: why didn’t
they save me? Why only me?
I was so scared of what people would
think. I hated them looking at me.
Most people think HIV is for those
who change sexual partners. I thought
it was a curse. One friend always
brought me food. But I never told him.
Luckily at the clinic I met young people
who were also infected. I learnt I have
a life to live. I got a girlfriend in S2.
After a long relationship without sex,
but with romances and kisses, I told
her I had HIV. She asked me: How will
we have children? Will they be safe?
Won’t I get infected?
I tried to answer but I felt hurt as if I
were a burden to her. The next time
we met I suggested: "Do you mind if
we remain friends in case I am hurting
you when lovers?"
We separated but then got back
together. We started to do things which
risked her life. Finally, I got the idea that
we test together. She was negative. I
was pleased and relieved. I suggested
the end of the relationship. I did not
want to infect her."
Living with HIV is not easy even if you
are on ARVs. If you have any questions
for Joe or Jane, write to PO Box 22366,
Kampala. We are grateful for their
stories.
 Straight Talk, October 2009 3

Septrin, Panadol do not Donate

prevent pregnancy
It is common for women and girls to die in childbirth.
Every day at least 15 women in Uganda die from
complications of pregnancy and childbirth. So every
year Uganda loses about 6000 women and girls.
Rachael, 16, from Masinya SS in Busia told Straight Talk's
Lusamia radio show that she is in a relationship and having
sex, but does not want to get pregnant. She says: "When my
boyfriend asked for sex, I went for Injectaplan.It affected me. I
would menstruate for a whole week or twice a month. I did not
go back for the second injection. A friend of mine advised me
to take septrins and panadols just before sex. That is what I use
now."
This is very wrong advice, Rachel. You will get pregnant.
Panadol and septrin don't prevent pregnancy. They are
not contraceptives. Pills and Injectaplan are both excellent
for preventing pregnancy. You may get side effects at first, like
changes in your menstrual cycle, but these changes will
come to normal. Go back to the health worker so you can
discuss these side effects and get over them. It is best to
use pills or Injectaplan with condoms so that you protect
yourself against HIV/STDs as well.
Contraceptives, also called "family planning", are safe for
young females. They have a big role in preventing abortions. administered on
Each year, approximately 290,000 unsafe abortions are
performed in Uganda, mostly on unmarried girls. Many of
these abortions result into deaths and disabilities.
Girls, if you are having sex, you need contraception. Visit a
blood, save
lives
When you donate blood you save a
life. Children with severe anemia,
women who over bleed during child
birth, accident survivors and patients
undergoing operations need blood.
Maurice Ayikaing, the Programme
Officer Blood donation at Uganda
Red Cross says: You can donate blood
if you are: l Between 17 and 60 years
l Weigh at least 45 kg l Not
sick, not on medication and have no
chronic disease like diabetes l Girls
are not allowed to donate blood during
menstruation period.
You can donate blood after every three
months. An adult has between 4.5 to
6 liters of blood. Less than a litter of
A doctor and blood is taken when you donate blood.
her client at You do not need special meals to get
back this blood.
Naguru Teenage
Centre at Kiswa. Michael Mukundane from Nakasero
Injectable Blood Bank, says: Blood is like grass.
contraceptive is When you cut, it grows very fast. Our
bodies make blood continuously. One
the arm or on is able to get back plasma, the liquid
the buttocks. It is component within 24 hours, red blood
safe for you cells within 46 hours after donation.
The blood you donate is tested to

QUIZ
health centre, Reproductive Health Uganda, AIC or Marie determine your blood group, HIV,
Stopes clinics near you for more advice. Boys, use condoms Hepatitis C and Syphilis.
and encourage your girlfriends to use contraceptives. You can get results in
s
Some straight Talkertive. confiden-
y sexu al ly ac tiality.
are alread out sex
Others are curious ab

Know your body: What is

sex?
good PO
the sper m cell
Box
Write to
Unzimai midpiece and 22366 Kampala
I, 15, a tail. The tail
S1, Metu SS Moyo, wants helps sperm to swim. Sperm cells
to know where the sperm are carried out of the body in a fluid
come from? called semen. Semen is a whitish
or greyish liquid, released from the Life defender: New on
condom brand coming so
Unzimai, do you mean sperm cell or urethra on ejucalation.
semen? Dr paul Semugoma says
during puberty between 12 and Main purpose of semen is to help
Rose Asekenye, 19,
16 years or later, boys' bodies sperm survive the journey to the There is another a student at Kamod
change. They grow bigger, and female egg. A boy ejaculates during condom brand Vocational School
develop pubic hair, bigger penises wet dreams, sex or when he is coming your way. says: I have a boy
and beard. All this is normal. sexually excited. Make a pick and stay friend, we use condoms
safe. The condom for protection against
The testes (testicles) also develop. In case you do not ejaculate, get coordinator in the STDS and HIV/AIDS.
Sperm cells start to be produced in wetdreams or play sex, the sperm Ministry of Health,
the testes. They are stored in tubes cells are reabsorbed or used up by Vastha Kibirige, Amodoi V, 16,
near the testes. Sperm cells are the testes and will not cause harm says government has Kagwara landing
almost the smallest cells in the body. to your body. Like other cells, sperm developed a new brand site: "The risks
A sperm cell consists of a head, cells are produced continiously. of male condoms called which are here are
Life Defender. mainly diseases like
HIV/AIDS. I have
Female egg Life Defender is a girlfriend. We use
expected to increase prev ent HIV/AIDS and
condoms to
condom use, a move that will see ante d preg nan cy. I don’t drink
unw
more people protected against ,
alcohol. It wastes life." Good choices
unwanted pregnancies and STDs. can mak e you
Amodoi. Alcohol
Fact: Ugandans use about 8 million
forget to use a condom. You can
condoms every month. But if every
get free condoms from the nearest
sexual act that needs protection used
government health centre or buy
a condom, Ugandans would use 20
them from private clinics and shops.
million condoms every month.
gest
Having un protected sex is one of the big
sex, always
Sperm cells trying to dangers for adolescents.If you are having
en your
enter the female egg use a condom. You can never know wh
partner will become unfaithful.
4 Straight Talk, October 2009
Dear
STF
O. Boxx 22 36 6 sickle cell will menstruate and she
P.P.O. Bo 22 36 6
A M P A L A
K KA M P A L A
Is masturbation the best way to
abstain? Does it cause infertility
to men? Jacob O, 21, Gulu
College.
Jacob, abstinence is a decision not
to have sex. It is a way of protection
from HIV, STDs or pregnancy.
People who are abstaining
sometimes feel like having sex. This
is natural and normal. When they
feel like having sex, they touch their
private parts for sexual pleasure.
This is called masturbation. It does
not cause infertility or any disease.
For some, it may be the best way
to relieve sexual tension while
abstaining. But some people have
moral or religious objections to
masturbation. So the decision to,
masturbate or not masturbate is up
to you.
Is it true that shaving pubic hair
reduces sexual feelings? Alex
M,16, S2, Masindi Seed SS
It is not true. Sexual feelings come
from hormones in our body. They
are natural and normal. We start
having them during teenage years.
Having sexual feelings does not
mean that you should have sex.
Wait! Shaving or not shaving pubic
hair will not affect your sexual
feelings.
From left: Julie, Paula, Denis,
Princess, Fred, Emmanuel
New voices on
I t i s f r e s h f o r S t r a i g h t Ta l k e r s i n B u n y o r o a n d A r u a
Juliet Kabahaguzi,
20, takes over Baza Busiimba, the
Runyoro radio show from Carol
Karungi. Carol is now a radio
producer, busy in the
radio studio.Juliet is
from Nyakarongo,
Masindi. “I
dropped out of
school in S4.
Now that I have
a job, I hope to go
back to school. I had a
boyfried but we seperated . I am now
abstaining. I used to have protected
sex. We tested together for HIV.”
Is it true that a person suffering
from sickle cells cannot give
birth or menstruate? Ariso S,
Tororo Girls School
Sickle Cell is a disease of blood
which is passed on from parents
to their children (inherited).
The person who suffers from it
has different problems, but they
develop and grow . A girl with
can become pregnant if she plays
sex. A boy who has sickle cell can
also impregnate a woman or girl.
I have big breasts, am bum-less
with a big head full of grey hair.
My friends laugh at me. What
can I do? Khasula M, 16, S2,
Dabani Girl, Busia
Dear Khasula, I understand that
you don’t like the way that you
look. But you shouldn’t be worried.
During our adolescence and
puberty, we are changing. For
Students of Musa ni Girls’
Scho ol in Ar ua y it is
cool to delay sex
ST centre for you in
Adjumani
You are welcome to the Adjumani
Straight Talk Youth Centre.
It is located near Maci Internet Cafe
and Comboni College. Get friendly
services: Counselling, group talks,
sports, reading and information on
positive living.
The centre also conducts community
outreach in the district, school visits
and programmes for young mothers.
ST radio shows
Elia Alitia, 21,
is the new voice behind Eyoeceza
tra ri, the Lugbara radio show. He
replaces Paula Amaniyo, who is
now manager,Adjuman
Straight Talk Youth
Centre. “My village is
Kpemgbele, Arua. I
have a girlfriend but
we are abstaining. I
have just completed
S6 and she is in S4.
I couldn’t go to the
university because I had no
money. I am lucky to have this job. I
hope to go back to school next year.”
example, you may find that at one mean that they are in love.
time, your legs seem to be too long, During teenage years, we all start
or your head too big, or you feel getting sexual feelings. We feel
you are too thin. Grey hair is not attracted to opposite sex. This is a
something that someone gets at time of change and growth. You
16. This is most likely something are developing physically and
that you got in your genes. It will emotionally. A friend touching your
not change as you grow. You can private parts is going too far. You
have it dyed. At this time, you feel are tempting him and your self.
strongly that your friends laugh at Having sex when not yet ready
you. Most likely they don’t. They means you are risking unplanned
are like you, also still growing, with pregnancy, HIV and STDs.
fears like yours. Start liking yourself
Counselor: Dr Paul Semugoma,
and they will like you.
International Hospital, Kampala
My boyfriend touched my private
parts and kissed me. He said his
Inspiration
motto is to kiss and touch me but
not to have sex with me. Does
he love me? Girl, S3, Metu SS,
I give whatever IWdo 100%. I am not -
Moyo hen you try some
Having sex does not mean that scared of failing./50 chance that you
thing there is 50
a person loves someone. For could succeed or fail. The important
example, when one is raped, they much determina-
question is how tti
tion are you pu ingng in what you
have had sex. But this does not are do .”
Duncan Mugabe
tennis star.
ADVIC E TO NAM BALU K A
In August, Nambaluka said:
This boy should not force you to
love him. Love is natural. If he
A boy told me that he attempts to rape you, make an
loves me but I refused alarm. Nyanda Lee Zackeo,
him. Whenever I meet him Metu SS, Moyo
on my way to school, he
attempts to rape me. Yo u al l w in
Straight Talkers advised Nambaluka. St ca ps , Pe ns
Omara P, Lira Day and Bording
School, says: “Report him to your
parents, teachers or police so that you
s
are helped immediately. If he attempt
to rape you, make an alarm.“
Continue refusing. That boy wants
to spoil your future. If he continues
threatening to rape you, report him
to your parents, Always move in a
group. There is safety in numbers.
Asiimirwe P, Ruhaama SS,
Ntungamo
Nambaluka, what is happening to
ADVISE AM :
My mother died. My father has
you is tough and dangerous. refused to marry another wife. He
Stand firm and say NO to his says he wants me to become his
demands. Report him to the elders. wife in future. Whenever I go back
Namulondo R, Valley Hill SS, home for holidays, he demands for
Kaliro sex. I am still a virgin please advise
me. AM, Dabani Girls School
Straight Talk FOUNDATION 4 Acacia Ave PO Box 22366, Kampala (U)
Tel: 0312-262030/1 E-mail: info@straight-talk.or.ug Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug,
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