Minister of Education and Sports in Uganda, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, expressed strong disapproval of the use of family planning methods among school-going girls, emphasizing that contraception should only be considered within the context of married couples for spacing their children.
Speaking at the National Youth Convention at Kololo Independence Grounds, Uganda’s first lady underscored her belief that family planning is intended for families seeking to plan the spacing of their children and questioned why anyone would advocate for school-going children to utilize these methods to avoid pregnancy.
She emphasized the potential health risks associated with using contraception at a young age, particularly highlighting the risk of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The Minister joined a growing number of government leaders in rejecting a proposal by a health ministry official advocating for the use of birth control methods among girls aged 15 and above. Instead, she urged young girls to exercise patience, contentment, and abstain from sexual activities until marriage.
The First Lady emphasized the importance of living a life aligned with God’s principles, cautioning against engaging in immoral behaviors or succumbing to negative influences often propagated through various media channels. She encouraged the youth to maintain strong spiritual connections through daily communication with God and reading religious texts, believing that this practice leads to personal transformation.
The Minister also drew attention to concerning statistics during the Covid-19 pandemic years, with an estimated 32,000 Ugandan teenagers eloping every month, emphasizing the need for guidance and appropriate measures to address these challenges.
