‘Many women, no AIDS’: Museveni contrasts traditional Karamoja with Christian areas
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has suggested that traditional marriage practices in the Karamoja region contribute to lower HIV prevalence rates compared to other parts of the country. He advocated for a return to cultural values as a potential strategy for public health.
Why it matters
The remarks spark debate over the intersection of public health policy, cultural tradition, and religious influence in East African governance.
President Yoweri Museveni speaking at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal during the enthronement ceremony of Tooro’s 14th Omukama, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I/Screengrab President Yoweri Museveni has called for a return to traditional marriage practices, arguing that cultural values could help curb the spread of HIV in Uganda.
Speaking at Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal during the enthronement ceremony of Tooro’s 14th Omukama, His Majesty Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, Museveni cited Karamoja as an example of a region where traditional practices coexist with lower HIV prevalence.
Museveni argued that traditional marriage practices, including strict cultural expectations around marriage, could offer lessons for Uganda's HIV response, citing Karamoja's comparatively lower HIV prevalence.
The President urged Ugandans to compare HIV prevalence in Karamoja with rates in Fort Portal, Mbarara and Kampala, arguing that communities that have maintained traditional ways of life appear to have fared better in controlling the epidemic.
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