Cultural Attitudes and Rumors Are Lasting Obstacles to Safe Sex in Uganda

Infection rates have begun increasing again in Uganda, and AIDS counselors interviewed in Bwindi blame cultural norms and disease-related myths. In much of Uganda, including Bwindi, most people are subsistence farmers.

Epidemiological reports show casual sex is on the rise, together with concurrent sexual partner networks, which can rapidly spread infection. Young women from the wealthiest families are the only girls who escape pressure to have transactional sex.

"Many people are just ignorant," said counselor Gervis Muhumuza. "They have low education and so many misconceptions. Minus the elite class in Kampala and a few others, nobody is using condoms."

In a 2006 survey of 11,000 Ugandans, 99 percent had heard of AIDS. Very few people - about one in three - had comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including how it is transmitted and prevented.

One recent prevention advertisement features a leering middle-age man and states, "You wouldn't let him sleep with your teenage daughter. Why are you sleeping with his?" One ad shows a frightened-looking child saying, "My mommy is sick because of the sexual network."

"According to African culture, the man is the overlord," said counselor Peace Atwongyeire, who appears on local billboards saying she is not ashamed to be HIV-positive. "You have to say yes." A man who buys a wife from her father for cows or cash "owns" her, she said. If the wife refuses sex or insists on condoms, she might be beaten or thrown out of the house.

In addition, condoms thwart signs of masculinity: "I prove my manhood by having children," said counselor George Bitti, a father of 14. "That's how a girl proves she is a woman. In Africa, you cannot tell anyone to stop having children. They will think, 'I would rather have AIDS and leave my children when I die. At least I will have produced my three."


The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


Together We Remain Strong!