HIV basics: Septrin Meet our

• The World Health Organization and new Lukonzo radio

Ugandan Government want all people journalist
living with HIV to take Septrin daily. Lukonzo is the main
• They should start as soon as they learn language of Bundibugyo
that they have HIV. and Kasese and one
of the 14 in which STF
• Septrin dramatically improves the health
airs its radio shows for
of people with HIV, helping to prevent adolescents. Jokas
chest and skin infections, diarrhoea, and Kabairwe has taken
malaria. over from Biira Gedi, who
• Even people on is now busy with Parent
ARVs need Septrin. Talk. He says: "I am enjoying work and making
new friends. I am learning the computer. Each
day my typing speed increases." Listen to
009 Jokas on Messiah FM Sunday 6:15pm
o. 5 May 2
Vol. 15 N and VOT Friday 7:30pm

Bundibugyo

Cocoa pods in You cannot miss the Because the terrain

Bundibugyo: cocoa baboons in Semliki (landscape) is steep,
makes chocolate. Game Reserve people dig from the hill-
top to the bottom.

A girl carries a load the traditional
Kikonzo way, using her forehead.
is a beautiful land. The Rwenzori
Mountains tower above the flat and
open Rift valley. Meandering the 47
km road from Fort Portal is an
experience to write home about.
The road is said to have 90 corners, but we
counted more. Maybe we considered the minor
ones! The road ushers you into the Semliki Game
Reserve. Uganda kobs welcome you. Just driving
through, you see over 50. Some pose gracefully
for pictures, others shy away. Some are inquisitive.
Some hold a meeting in the the road. They give
you way then resume. You spot an antelope some
150 m away. Waterbucks are also close to the
road. A baboon is up a tree, a family of about 20
nearby. As our vehicle approaches, the baboon
leader emerges from the shrubs and majestically that many have stood their ground and said NO
walks away. Buffalos graze in groups of five or six. to sexual exploitation. Read more about Straight
An elephant has just pushed down a tree and is Talkers in Bundibugyo on p2 & 3.
now walking to the lakeshore to drink. We wish
we could see more, but we are now in Ntoroko,
a fishing village on Lake Albert. Later, moving to
Bundibugyo town is scaring: one slip off the road,
you are gone. You hold your breath. Then you spot
water spurting from the ground: hot springs! When
you reach them, you do not need a sigiri to boil Fishing villages can be
eggs. Just drop them there, and in a few minutes, tricky. Fish brings a lot
hunger is history.
of cash. This can cause easy
life, which in turn brings HIV.
Tribes in Bundibugyo
If you live near a lake, tell
Bundibugyo is the land of the Bakonzo, Bamba us: how you balance fishing
and Batwa. Bakonzo and Bamba share a similar
and school? What do you do
cultural lineage. Both have the beautiful and
healthy culture of circumcising their boys. The with your money? Have you
Batwa are pygmies, the original inhabitants of stayed safe? Write to
the south-west. So Bundibugyo is very beautiful
and diverse. But not everything is alright there. PO Box 22366 Kampala
and
WIN!
Sadly, we found adolescents in Bundibugyo facing
many risks. Some had been forced into sex. Others
had already acquired HIV. But we are happy to say
2 Straight Talk, May 2009
Rape is not the culture
of Bundibugyo or Uganda
as a whole.
Unfortunately in Bundibugyo
rape seems common right now.
For example, boys may waylay
a girl who has said NO to one
of their friends: then one boy
rapes her. This is very wrong.
• Bad company
One day a friend conned for me a
boy. I refused him and reported her
to my mother, who stopped me from
moving with her. But our friendship
never stopped. One day she asked
me to accompany her to her sister’s
place. The house was not locked,
though it was closed. We entered. My
friend went out to look for her sister
and left me inside. As I waited, the
boy appeared from one of the rooms.
He closed the door and started
undressing me. I tried to fight him,
but failed. He raped me. I later found
that I was pregnant. I dropped out of
school. An NGO that cares for girls'
education paid my fees. I am now in
S4. Girl, 18, Karugutu SS
Editor: What happened to you
is very sad. Be careful of wrong
friends. Listening to parents
is protective. It is good to hear
that you got another chance for
school.
Trouble with teachers
Editor: Edith, that was very
Some learners in
bad. But in future, do not make
Bundibugyo told us that
a teacher into a boyfriend.
teachers disturb them.
Avoid dark spots and walking
at night, especially when alone.
I had a boyfriend who was a
The same teacher or another
teacher at my school. When he
man could lay a trap for you.
asked me to have sex with him,
I refused. He said he would wait
Please, teachers, remember
for me in a dark place and rape
your Code of Conduct.
me. Recently, he found me at a
dark spot and wanted to rape
me. Fortunately, people came
and arrested him. He is now in
prison. I am worried he could
bribe police officers and come for
me. Edith, 19, Karugutu SS
Be careful
when older men
befriend you!
Jane, 19, who was born
with HIV, shares her life
with us.
Dear diary,
It has been a good month, though I have
flu and cough. I will go to the doctor
tomorrow. I've done a lot of work
in the office and have also been
very busy with the bead and jewelry
project I have with my boyfriend. I
encouraged him to start this company.
You know, he paints. He's an artist
and enterprising. I like him for that.
Anyway, we started with very little
money. Business is picking. We
sell our products to friends
abroad. A set of a necklace,
earrings and bracelet
goes for 40,000/=. You
put in about 10,000/=.
So it's good profit and
keeps us running. There
Smart fishing boys at Ntoroko on Lake
Albert know how to manage their
money. They do not visit prostitutes or
take alcohol. They help their families
and save for school fees.
• Eats 'choked' ME
At 15, I had a girlfriend who used to
buy me eats. One day she invited me Editor: Thank you for
to her home. When I reached, I found learning from that bad
she had prepared good food. We ate. experience. Gifts weaken our
Afterwards she took me to her bed resistance to sex. Ask WHY when
and we had sex. I never wanted, people give you favours.
but she had given me lots of things.
I tested later and was negative. Good enough, some
Today I say no to sex. Bonnie, S3, Straight Talkers resisted
Karugutu SS bad sex.
Straight Talkers
at Kukuka Hill
SS, Bundibugyo,
speak out on
dangers young
people face
• Boys: Getting involved with gangs
that rape girls.
• Girls:Some have sex with teachers
for good marks. When they dress
indecently, men think they want
sex. Walking alone in lonely places
is very dangerous.
• Both boys and girls: Having many
sex partners. Alcohol and drugs
is less reading this month, so I will do my and physically ready. Besides that, we are
industrial training. I am going to counsel both aware that we could re-infect each
children who are born with HIV. other during unprotected sex so we are
delaying.
Letters to Jane
"I would like to advise Jane But Jane, where did your parents go?
to stop having sex with her Did they die or abandon you? I would
boyfriend to avoid re-infection like to know, please.
or always use condoms. B Phiona, Dabani Girls SS, Busia
Nansubuga Olivia, St. Thank you, Phiona, for writing. I lost my
Kalemba SS dad in 2000. He died of AIDS. I only
Dearest Olivia, thank you for have a mother who is not strong enough
the great advice. Me and nowadays to work and look after us. So
my boyfriend this puts me in charge of looking after her
are currently and my siblings.
abstaining until
the time we I would like to know the challenges
feel that we are you went through and how you have
financially stable managed to live a positive life. Please
• I escaped my brother's
wife It was a weekend and I was
resting when my brother's wife
knocked on my bedroom door. My
brother was not at home. When I
opened, she came straight to my
bed. She asked for sex and began
touching my penis. I walked out in
protest. She told me not to tell my
brother. But when he came back, she
told him that I had wanted to rape
her. My brother chased me away. I
went back to my parents. Now the
distance I walk from home to school
is very long. Richard, 18, S3,
Kakuka Hill SS
Editor: Oh Richard! That
long distance is better than the
danger of sex with your sister-in-
law. Many Straight Talkers have
fallen into such traps and, unlike
you, did not escape. Thanks for
being brave and smart. Straight
Talker, if you find yourself in
such a situation, walk away like
Richard.
Leaders in Bundibugyo are doing
a lot to protect young people with
bye-laws on alcohol. Thank you,
leaders! We are happy to work with
you.
can lead to forced and unprotected
sex.
• Both boys and girls: Wanting more
than you have or your parents can
offer you. • Irresponsible parenting:
many students are not loved, cared
for or even disciplined at home, even
when they go home late. • Culture:
many people don’t value education.
advise how other youth can live with
HIV. I hear people saying that once you
get it, it means the end of everything.
Nakimuli AB, Dabani Girls
Thank you so much for writing to me. One
challenge I faced was stigma. At school I
was nicknamed because of falling sick all
the time. Also, accepting that I was positive
was hard. But with peer support at my
clinic, I am now able to stand out of the
crowd. I changed my attitude. That’s why I
am able to reach out to young people like
you with an aim of saving lives through
the power of my testimony.
Being HIV positive doesn’t mean the
end of everything. It simply means
the beginning of "a new life with
precaution".

Inside Kichwamba: Technical studies for girls
Young people who go to
technical institutes are like hot
cakes. They easily get jobs. Read
about Kichwamba Technical
Institute in Kabarole on the road
to Bundibugyo.
Engineer
Jorem Adutu,
the Principal
of the Institute,
says technical
skills help fresh
graduates to get
jobs immediately.
“We give skills that
employers want. The job market
is about what you can do,” says
Adutu.
Vocational courses are for girls
too, he says. Currently Kichwamba
has 53 female students against 488
males. They expect 100 females
and 600 males in the next academic
year. “Things have changed," Adutu
says. "Women need these skills too.
We are committed to see that they
get them."
Right! Days when girls were
excluded from some academic
programmes are long gone.
Women can drive taxis, build
houses, fly planes and fight on
front lines. "I joined Kichwamba
because I had the passion to do
engineering," says Ann Mary
Nalusiba, 21, who is doing
Electrical Engineering.
Get PEP within 72
hours after rape
In Bundibugyo we visited
Nyahuka Health Centre to check
on the availability of PEP, the
medicine you take after rape
to reduce the chance of HIV
infection. There the in-charge,
Godfrey Biguyi, said that rape
survivors don’t go for PEP
because they fear the stigma of
rape. That is sad and wrong!
Girls -- and boys too -- if you are
exposed to the body fluids of a
person whose HIV status you
do not know, rush for PEP. All
health centres that give ARVs
also offer PEP. It is free. Do not
delay. You must get PEP within
72 hours. The sooner you get
it, the better it works. When you
go to the health centre, you will
be tested for HIV. If you are HIV
negative, the health worker will
give you PEP (ARV drugs) to
take for the next 30 days.
Do not
fear
stigma.
Go for
PEP. Your
shyness
will last
for a day.
HIV is for
life.
Straight Talk, May 2009 3
you especially when you are in
first year," says Twinomujuno
Naome, 23, a 2nd year in Water
Engineering. "But most of the
ladies here are born-again. If you
are not, you share a room with a
born again, and sex may not be
easy. I have a boyfriend who is not
here. I call him everyday before I
go to sleep. Even my parents know
him. We are waiting to
have sex. There is
no need to rush
to heaven when
Ruth "The
you are gong to
Mulongo is women
spend there so
a first year student often have
long."
of Mechanical Engineering. She other partners, and there is
Ruthworker,
expected to be a medical partying. Students can get drunk
Mulongo
but did not get a place. "At first I did and expose themselves to HIV."
not like this course. But my relatives
encouraged me and I joined But most students know
Kichwamba Technical Institute. I how to handle themselves.
Kichwamba history
like mechanical engineering. Fixing "Some students are misled by
cars is fun. In town people respect freedom, but I am focussed," says
us for doing a 'man's job'." Galabuzi Jimmy, a 2nd year
in Mechanical Engineering.
BUT at tertiary, "I have what it takes
there are HIV to make girls run
risks, just like around. I am from
at secondary. Kampala. I have
At Kichwamba the clothes and
there are ten money. But I
boys for every have no time
one girl. "So for girls. I want
boys who do not to concentrate
Tragically, 30 Kichwamba
get girlfriends at the on my studies. I students died on 8 June 1998
school sometimes end would not want to
when Allied Democratic Forces
up in trading centres with older have a retake." (ADF) attacked. STF paid its
women," explains Emaru Adam,
respects at the grave.
21, who is the Guild President. "It is normal for boys to approach
Critical thinking is identifying a problem and finding a
solution to it. The problem here is HIV. Think critically
about how you can avoid it. If a man asks you for sex,
it might be that he has been giving you gifts. Giving
your body is not a good solution. Instead, you could
return the gifts if you still have them. You can also stop
receiving them. Critical thinking gives a permanent
solution to the root problem. If you fail to think
critically, you can get into very big problems.
• Be alert to your environment and
the people around you Think critically about your surroundings. What
• Weigh all the options that come are these boys planning?
in your mind
• Listen to your sixth sense: if you "We all make mistakes, but if we
sense danger, run away.
repeat a mistake, it means we
By Beatrice Bainomugisha, are not learning." Ochole Milton, AIDS
counselor, Straight Talk Information Centre, Soroti
Circumcision is the removal (the cutting off) of the foreskin of the penis. This can be done for
religious, cultural or medical reasons. Everyone knows that the Bagisu circumcise their boys. But it
is also the culture of the Bakonzo and the Bamba. If circumcision is done in the traditional way, each
boy should have his own knife to avoid transmitting HIV. Never share the same knife. Now doctors
have discovered that males who are circumcised are about 60% less likely to get HIV -- although they
can still get infected (they are not immune). So health workers are now circumcising males to reduce
the spread of HIV.
Circumcision is helpful because HIV likes to enter the body through the delicate cells on the foreskin.
When the foreskin is removed, the skin of the tip of penis becomes drier and tougher. This makes it
harder for HIV to enter the body. Circumcision also improves personal hygiene. Circumcision
is best done in a hospital to reduce risks of infection, over-bleeding and injury. Remember, Straight
Talkers, even if you are circumcised, you can still get infected with HIV. Continue to say NO to sex.
Once sexually active, you will need to test with your partner, use condoms and be faithful.
By Dr. Christine Nalwadda, Makerere University School of Public Health
4 Straight Talk, May 2009
"The mark of a wise
Dear and mature-thinking

STF
Bo x 22 36
P OO.Bo x P22A36
P. 66
M L A
KK AA M P A L A
Periods and sex desires
My cousin told me that during
her periods, she feels like having
sex. But she fears. She wants
to keep her virginity. What can
I tell her? Munduni F, Vvura
Secondary School, Arua
You have a very open cousin,
who can share with you. That is
good. Encourage her to continue
abstaining from sex. The desire to
have sex is normal. All people get
sex desires. Many young people
(and old people too!) just follow
their desires. But the mark of a wise
and mature-thinking person is the
ability to delay fulfillment of their
desire. Time will come when she
can have sex anytime she wants:
when she has a good education, a
job, and someone who loves her
and who has tested with her for
HIV.
Food types and HIV
Is it true that some food hides
the HIV virus in your blood if
eaten before going for an HIV
test? Babuthirwaki G, Kasese
High School
There are no food types that hide
the presence of HIV in the body,
leading to a negative test. But
I know that people can lie that
they went for a test and they were
person is the ability
to delay fulfillment
of their desire."
Dr P Semugoma
negative when they are not. So it
is important to test together with
your partner. It is also best to go
to a center which is authorised: a
government clinic, TASO or AIDS
Information Center. Also, when
a person goes for a test with a
partner, they can go to two places,
one of the partner’s choice and one
of your own choice. Some people
forge results.
Forced love
There is a woman who wants to
fall in love with me by force. She
threatens to go to a witchdoctor
to bewitch me if I refuse. What
can I do? S Alema, Vvura
Secondary School, Arua
Do not be scared by this woman.
She cannot harm you. She is
just scaring you. Love cannot be
forced. Pray to God for protection
and continue your good efforts at
school. Tell your teacher, parents or
trusted adult about it. Do not worry.
You will be OK.
Painful periods
Whenever I am in my periods,
I feel a lot of pain around my
private parts. I also change pads
all the time. What can I do?
Ninsiima J, S2, Rukungiri SS
Sometimes when the body is
“Abstinence from sex is our key factor for education success.” Albert Valley
College School, Straight Talk Club, Karugutu
still developing, many things can
happen: painful periods, heavy
bleeding, too little bleeding, and
pain in the back. However,
periods are not supposed
to be very painful. If the
pain continues, tell your
mother or a trusted aunt
and go see a doctor. You
can be given medicine to
reduce the pain.
Relationships in
schools
Why is it that when
girls join secondary
schools they love men
outside their school instead
of boys in their schools?
I Magezi, Sserwanga Lwanga
Memorial SS, Kalangala
Many young girls are attracted to
older men because they think love
is shown by the gifts and money
they receive from them. This is
called ‘something for something
ll yo un g. Be patient and
love'. It is not love but a desire to
get things. Relationships with older
men or women put young people
at high risk of getting HIV/ STDs.
This is because they are mixing
with people outside their age
group. Boys, do not run
after girls. Concentrate on
your studies. Make friends
with girls of good character,
who concentrate on their
work. Girls, do not demand
for gifts or run after big men.
Answers by You will end up in trouble.
Dr. Paul Semugoma,
IHK, Kampala Sex for fees
I have a sugar mummy
who is paying my fees. She
is forcing me into having sex
with her. I am totally disturbed.
S Amanyire, King Jesus College,
Kasese
I understand. You are totally
disturbed because you know this is
wrong and you deserve better. You
are at very high risk of getting HIV/
STDs, if you have sex with her.
There must be a way you can get
money for fees without selling
your body. Look for a job or a

Advice to SN
You are sti
get pregnant scholarship. You have a future, and
give birth. But don’t pa re nts.
gis e to yo ur it will be good depending on the
again. Apolo wi ll forgive
be ha ve d. Th ey choices you make now. Get more
Be well
an d tak e yo u ba ck to school. counseling from your nearest youth
ti you
lk SN,17, from Soro G Eunice, Dabani
Girls SS or health center.
In March Straight Ta s 11. I now
preg na nt in 2003 when I wa made you
said: "I be ca m e
hool. But I have little
hopes since Talk to the man who
want to go back to sc hat can she do to get back u plan for your
pregnant to help yo
QUIZ! WIN!
." W rs. Thanks going back
I am pregnant again r life better? We received many lette future. It might no t be
to school or make
he
win ST caps a business for
ds to SN. You all to school but starting report him
fri en g,
for be in g go od you. If he is not willin
rs to th e au th or itie s. S At usasire, 14, Readers: advise
Star letteing wi th yo ur prob lem . First deliver your ch
ild then
ey have hope.
Duhaga SS, Hoim
a
ou
Thank you for com
t
titu te. Many people ar
e like you but th
abstaining Diana’s friend
SN, Think about mily
go to a vo ca tio na l ins ar SS
s." D Obuk, Amolat fa
Work towards succes e to or using modern oms, pills My friend stays with both her
it’s not your first tim planning like conde are safe parents. When her mother is away,
an d your situation. Hope after your kids after giving
or injections. These you.
Dear fri en d, I un de rst
to look her father brings another woman
hools. Get someone s words. Do away with boys.
hear of mothers in sc ct pe op le’ for adolescents lik in the house. My friend is paid by
school. Ne gle bwa, 17,
birth and go back to k aft er yo ur ch ild ren better. B Agonze her father not to tell her mother.
you loo
Education will help Her father has
im a
Duhaga SS , Ho
ree childre n
r y h promised her
o y ft e r t
stt r o l a
TrTureues
o Back to s c h o , she
hell on earth if
an d in P5 . W he n her parents died she ever tells
Alice Abiko was
In 1995,
13 sband died. He left
In 2001 her hu her mother.
rie d of f an d dr op ped out of school. he r children and hersel
f, Alice What can
was mar to ed uc at e gh fish
ren. Determined idnight to get enou . I did
her with three child un til m my friend do
ev er yd ay
ness. "I worked to start school
started a fish busi cted enough money
to save her
d co lle d casual
for my customers.
By 20 03 I ha
Rh in o Ca m p SS , Arua, where she di mother without
15." Alice joined out FAWE, which
PLE that year. I got trees. She heard ab . Alice joined Muni
her father
te r an d pl an tin g
work like fetching
wa t sponsorhip knowing?
ne ed y cl ev er gi rls . She applied and go r fish business to ca
ter for Diana, 14, S2,
educates s Al ic e do es he
. During holiday
Girls SS. She is in S6 in P5, P4 and P3.
Tororo Girls
e
her children, who ar
Straight Talk FOUNDATION Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262030/1, 0414530088 Kampala (U)
Alice Abiko is
E-mail: info@straighttalkuagnda.org, Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug; Executive Director: C Watson, Director Print: T Agutu,
Editorial Manager: E Kimuli, Editors: G Awekofua, M Akello, J Abongowath, F Ouma,
now in S6 Chief Designer: M eB. Kalanzi, Designers: G Mukasa, AB Dentine, Funded by DANIDA, DFiD, SIDA, DCI