A report has it that only 9% of Ugandan men aged 40 – 49 years used ‘protection’ when they engaged in extramarital sex in 2018. This was revealed by Dr Daniel Byamukama who heads the HIV Prevention Division at the Uganda AIDs Commission.
Dr Byamukama said condom usage has been on a steady decline. In 2000, condom usage was at 38% and dropped to 24% in 2018. Worse still, the general prevalence of men between 40 and 49 years is 14%. Prevalence among the same category of men who engage in extramarital sex is at 25%.
“This should worry the country as it is undoing previous awareness done by activists like Philly Lutaaya (RIP) and other interventions geared towards prevention of HIV which is highest among men of that age group who are believed to be giving young girls the virus,” said Dr. Byamukama.
Dr. Byamukama was speaking at the commemoration of the Philly Bongoley Lutaaya day on Thursday 17th October 2019. Lutaaya is remembered for being the first prominent Ugandan, a celebrated musician to give a human face to HIV/AIDS in Uganda. At the time he came out, there was a lot of stigma towards HIV. Lutaaya championed the fight against HIV/AIDS before succumbing to the virus in 1989.
