Rukungiri Residents Urged to Stay Faithful to Combat Rising HIV Rates 

Rukungiri: Residents of Rukungiri District have been urged to remain faithful to their partners and avoid extramarital affairs to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. 

Rukungiri District Health Educator, Alban Natukunda, made this appeal on February 24, in an interview with our news reporter, warning that engaging in multiple sexual relationships increases the risk of contracting the virus. 

This comes after a report from the Uganda AIDS Commission for 2023/2024 ranked Rukungiri as having the highest HIV prevalence in the Kigezi region at 8.3%. It is followed by Kanungu at 6.6%, Kabale at 5.5%, Rukiga at 5.0%, Rubanda at 2.9%, and Kisoro at 2.2%. 

Natukunda noted that some people fail to go for medical checkups and unknowingly spread the virus, while others intentionally infect others out of malice. He also expressed concern that many people refuse to use condoms, despite their availability for free in various locations. 

He advised those who are HIV-negative to stay faithful to their partners, abstain from sex, or use condoms if they cannot abstain. 

CUE IN…….. NATUKUNDA RR/ENG 

According to Uganda’s national HIV report as of December 2023, the country has 1,433,000 people living with HIV. Among them are 858,000 women, 495,000 men, and 80,000 children.