Straight Talk in Braille
now here
Braille is a method of
communication used by
blind people to read and
write. It was invented in
1821 by Louis Braille, a
blind Frenchman.
If your school has blind
students, ask your
S Kabugo, S6, headmaster to write to
Iganga SS reads Box 22366, Kampala
ST Braille.
I
t is now 28 years of HIV and it is still spreading. Why? Dr Stephen Watiti,
working with Mildmay Centre says it is because of three reasons.1. SEX 2.
SEX 3. SEX. And we get many letters from you asking about sex. So let us
talk about good sex and make HIV history in our lives and families.
We asked you what good sex was in
Straight Talk October 2009 quiz and
197 of you responded. Thank you. All
the published letters win a Straight Talk
diary.
In most of your letters you said
good sex is:
l After studies
l When you are an adult and-
can handle sex outcomes
l In marriage
l After you have tested for
HIV with your partner
l With a faithful partner
K
yeyune Michael, 17, scored
8 aggregates in 8 subjects
in the 2009 O-Level Exams.
He is now in S5 at St Mary’s College
Kisubi (SMACK), Wakiso. Kyeyune is
humble, intelligent and friendly.
He says: "I have always worked hard.
At P7 I got 4. My mother encourages
me to work hard and cooperate with
teachers. I’m doing Biology, Chem-
istry, Mathematics/Food and Nutri-
tion! I took nutrition because I want
to teach people to eat healthy food.
I enjoy cooking. I learnt it from my
HIV basics
I share a desk with a friend
living with HIV. Some students
say I will get HIV from her.
Can I leave her? Boy, Kasese
Don't leave her. You can't
get HIV by sharing a desk
with an infected person.
People living with HIV need
love, care and support.
Do not stigmatise them.
HIV stigma is when
o.2 March 2010 people do not want to
Vol.16 N be near or share something
with HIV postive people. Stigma spreads
HIV. People with HIV may deny or fear
to get treatment and support. They may
continue infecting their husbands, wives,
girlfriends, boyfriends and children.
Dr Stephen Watiti, Mildmay Centre
l Where diseases are not
spread to partner or baby
l Not forced
Guys and babes, think about these
factors carefully. If you are to have
sex, make it good.
Mawanda M, S3, Manchester HS,
Bugiri says: “Good sex is at the right
time, right state of mind and after your
education. It must be with someone you
love and ready to have sex with. It is not
defiling or raping someone.”
Akello M, Dabani Girls, Busia, says:
“Good sex does not transmit diseases to
your partner.”
mother who has a catering company. I
don’t feel ashamed to cook. It is bad to un-
derlook work which can help you become a
better person. Cooking is partly a source of
my school fees. I want to become a cardiol-
ogist (heart doctor) to treat people's hearts.
I’m a fan of Straight Talk (ST). In Raziah
primary, I enjoyed reading Young Talk Naiteberwa, 17,
and learnt the benefit of abstaining S6, Ntinda View College
from sex. I hope to abstain till mar- is abstaining from sex. She
riage. I don't have a girlfriend. One says: I like worshiping and
of the most interesting Straight serving God
Talks I have ever read was “Girls
are Equally Intelligent."
4 Straight Talk, March 2010
Dear
STF
O. Boxx 22 36 66
P.P.O. Bo 22 36
K AMM P A L A
K A P A L A
Is it true that if you don’t have
sex your penis fails to function?
Lubangakene S, 19, S2, Gulu SS
No. This is not true. Nothing wrong
will happen if you abstain even for 30
years.Your penis will work perfectly
well when the right time to have sex
comes.
My dad hates me. He only
pays my fees and leaves the
other burden to my mother. He
separated with my mother but I
need his love. Whenever I ring
him, he switches off the phone.
What can I do for him to love me?
Nabwire L, Tororo Girls School
It must be painful for you. Your dad
may not have a problem with you.
There must be some unresolved issues
between your parents.Try to ask your
mother the reason for separation.
Tell her how you feel about their
separation. Go to your dad and let
him know that you miss him. This
will give your parents time to think
through their decision and how best
to help you.
I ejaculate within 10 seconds. My
girlfriend is tired of me yet I love
her. What makes me ejaculate
very first? Wameyo J, Bungo,
Bungokho SS, Mbale
You are having sex at a wrong time
and place. Feelings of guilt and
anxiety make you fail to hold the
Advise Chemutai
I have a girlfriend who
quarrels when I talk to
other girls. What can i do?
Chemutai B, Sipi SS, Kapcho
rwa
Send your advice to Straig
ht
Talk PO BOX 22366, KAMPALA
AD VIC E To KS
In Straight Talk
November-December
2009, KS said: "I stay
with my stepmother. She
has three daughters who
all lost their virginity to
the house boy. She now
wants me to have sex with
this boy. She pays my fees.
My father died."
Straight Talkers advised
KS.
Oundo B, Dadira
Youth ST Club, Busia,
says: "Inform a trusted
Straight Talk FOUNDATION Plot 4 Acacia Ave, PO Box 22366, Kampala (U) Tel: 0312-262030/1,
E-mail: info@straight-talk.or.ug, Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug, President: C Watson, Executive Director: J Wiltshire,
Print Director: T Agutu, Editorial Manager: M Akello, Editors: F Ouma, J Abongowath, P Kiwuuwa, J. Nafula,
Photo Editor: G Awekofua,Chief Designer: M. eB Kalanzi, Designers: G.B Mukasa, A.B Dentine.
Funded by CIVIL SOCIETY FUND: DANIDA, DFiD, SIDA, IRISH AID, USAID
Members of Midland High school
ST Club say; We thank StraightTalk
for changing our behaviour.
erection for long. Concetrate
on your studies. You can be in a
relationship without having sex.
There is time for everything.
There is a boy who likes coming
home to disturb me. My mum
welcomes him but she does
not know the secret between
us. I have failed to tell my mum
about it. Advise me. Nayiga Ruth
Druscilla S2 ST. Lucia Hill School,
Wakiso
Dear Ruth, tell the boy to stop
disturbing you. If he refuses, let
your mother know his intentions.
Can candida prevent a girl from
getting pregnant or affect her
menstruation periods? Orikikiriza
Amina, St Suzan Girls HS, Mubende
Candida does not cause infertility or
affect menstruation periods.
relative, teacher. Your
stepmother wants to spoil
your future. Remember the
houseboy has
had sex with
all your sisters
and you do
not know his
HIV status."
"Dear KS,
don’t allow
to have sex
with this boy
just because
you want your
stepmother
to continue
Candida is a fungus. It usually
causes itching, scratching and a
white, thick, discharge in the genital
area. This occurs more often in
girls than in boys. It can be easily
treated. Some girls may get candida
before or after menstruation
periods.
What causes discordance?
Wahusa S, Muni Girls, Arua
Discordance is when one partner
has HIV and the other doesn’t. The
cause is not yet known. Sometime
you may be infected but the body
has not yet manufactured enough
antibodies to be detected by the
testing machines, so the results
appear negative. But this person
can get HIV at anytime if he or she
continues having unprotected sex
with someone who is HIV positive.
Counselors: Dr Paul Semugoma,IHK
and Aunt Liz,Okello,Gayaza HS
Members of Bunya S. S,
Mayuge ST Club say;
Delay sex and stay healthy.
paying your fees. Who
knows if this houseboy has
STDs like HIV. "Wadiko
Vivian,19, Arua SS
KS, your stepmother
does not want to see you
successful. Report her to
someone you trust. Econ J,
Arua HS
"Dear KS, ask your
relatives or LCs to find
you a safe place to live
in." Nalyali,F,Kisubi
HS,Wakiso
“If I could become a young
girl again, I would stay a virgin
until marriage. I made a wrong
decision to give my innocence
away outside marriage. It has
brought me a lot of pain in my
heart. I don’t want other women
to go through the same pain,”
Victoria Darrah Wilson,
author of ‘The journey to
the healing of the broken
hearted’ and former worker
of UBC TV.
Source: Monitor, March 13,
2010
Science
corner
Genital warts
What are genital warts?
Masereka G, S3,
Rwenzori HS, Kasese
Genital warts is a Sexu-
ally Transmitted Disease
(STD)caused by Human
Papillomavirus (HPV).
Genital warts affect the
penis, vagina and anus.
You can also get genital
warts around the throat or
mouth if you have oral sex
with an infected person.
The warts appear as soft,
raised masses with a surface
that can be smooth on the
genitals or rough with many
fingerlike projections.
Genital warts also cause itch-
ing and genital discharge.
The raised masses may grow
bigger. Others may remain
small or disappear especially
when the immune system is
strong. But if your immune
system has been weakened
by diseases like HIV/AIDS,
they may not go away.
Some people may have geni-
tal warts without getting any
symptoms. Go for medical
checkup to find out if you are
safe or not.
The earlier you start having
sex, the more you are ex-
posed to the disease.
Dr Paul Semugoma,
International Hospital
Kampala

The decision to have sex is a big one.
Once you start sex while still in school,
you enter a new world of fear.
V Namuganyi, teacher from St Mary SS
Kisubi, says; "Sex should be in
marriage where it is accepted by society."
Yes, early sex leads to bad feelings:
Guilt, used and cheap
Angry, Embarrassed
Worried, Scared
Loss of interest and bored
Stupid, Regret
If you are struggling with any of these
feelings, you know how it hurts.
Girl 19, from Arua, shares her story.
"My boyfriend put pressure on me to
have sex. I tried to dodge him but the guy
was demanding. I accepted because I did
not want to lose him.
The sex was so painful. I did not enjoy.
I kept thinking about getting HIV. I told
my boyfriend to put on three condoms
at ago so that I don't get exposed to HIV.
After that, I hated sex and I decided to
abstain."
QUIZ: Straight Talkers, when was the first time you had sex? Share
with us stories about how you felt. You can leave out your name.
Write to 22366, Kampala
You made a good decision to
abstain again. Keep it that way.
Many young people have chosen to
abstain again.
"Before having sex with my chic, I
loved her dearly. But after sex, she
was not all I thought she was. "Boy,
17.
Things do not have to be like
this. Wait for the right time to
enjoy sex.
Straight Talk, March 2010 3
Know your body:
The Ovum
The ovum or egg is the female
reproductive cell. It is made
in the ovaries. The ovaries are
found inside the abdomen.
When a girl’s body starts to
mature, one of the ovaries
releases an eggs every month.
This process is called ovulation.
The released egg usually travels
through the fallopian tube to
the uterus (womb).
If you have unprotected sex,
during this time, the sperm can
fertilize the egg.
The fertilized egg then moves
from the fallopian tubes to the
uterus and begins to grow into
a baby. Nabirye Mary, S2, Iganga SS says: Its
cool to stay a VIRGIN
If the egg is released and
may have sex at the time her first period is
you do not have sex,
about to happen. This means
the egg will come out
the egg (ovum) is released
through the vagina as
waiting to be fertilised. So if
menstruation.
the girl has sex, she can get
pregnant.
Pregnancy fact:
A girl can get pregnant C Kyamulabi, Naguru
even if she has never Teenage Information and
had her first period. She
Health Centre 

Say NO to bad
peer pressure
Diary of a young positive heard that he is HIV positive.
What can I do?

Joe, 18, was born with HIV. If you are on ARVs, go to the hospital It is unfortunate that your boyfriend
l Know what you like and what Every month, he updates us on at the first sign of any illness. This cheated on you. I encourage both
you do not like. how he is doing. prevents illnesses like pneumonia and of you to go for HIV testing to be
malaria that might attack you. I do sure of the your status. You will best
l Make friends you share same I fell sick towards the end of last term. not take any medicine without asking know how to look after yourself. It
values. I was surprised and scared at the the health worker. is important to know your HIV sta-
same time. I had never missed taking tus and that of your partner before
l Avoid people and situations my ARVs. I have been on ARVs for I have been taking my medicine well. having sex.
that can tempt you to do things the last one and half years. My body is responding well to the You have any questions
you wouldn’t want to do. medicine. I always go for a medical
I felt relieved
for Joe or Nuru?
examination after every three months. Write to: 22366, Kampala
l Know negative outcomes that when the
can come from giving into peer doctor told Nuru answers your questions
pressure. me that even Nuru (Jane) is a young girl who was
people on born with HIV. In 2009 she shared
l Stand your ground. Let your ARVs fall sick. with you the story of her life. Nuru
NO be a NO! now answers your questions.
ARVs are
l Listen to your parents. not acure for Hi Nuru, I am 20, a student. I had
They can give you excellent HIV/AIDS unprotected sex for three months. I
advice from experience. but they help later realized that my boyfriend was
slow down the having multiple sexual partners and
l Talk about temptations with disease.
someone you trust.
You can fall sick while on ARVs. ARVs do not
remove the virus from your body, but they make
you stronger, healthier and live a longer life.
Nuru

Answer to the French quiz

In Aug 2009, we wanted to know if you are learning French and
asked you the meaning of these words:
L'abstinence est le moyen le plus sur d' eviter le sida.

Meaning: Abstinence is best option for HIV

prevention. Congratulations to all of you who answered this quiz.
You win Straight Talk caps.
2 Straight Talk, March 2010

Abstaining from sex builds a strong Abstinence is the best

foundation for good sex in future preventive method When abstinence
when you are ready. against HIV/AIDS stops, keep it safe
Edith Mukisa our counselor
says: "Wait until your body is ready At one point in your life you
and mature. It is normally ready at will have sex, that is if you don't
20 years and above. But this does choose to abstain for life.When
not mean that whoever clocks 20 the right time comes, make it
should start having sex. safer sex. Use a contraceptive
like condoms unless you want
If you are still studying, abstain and to become a parent.
focus on your studies. Many people
abstain even up to 30 years." •Use condoms correctly ev-
ery time you have sex.
Before having sex think about the You may have watched a movie
outcomes like pregnancy, STDS, where people seem to have sex
HIV, imprisonment and dropping without mention of condoms
out of school. After having sex, and they simply have unpro-
it will be too late to think or tected sex.
talk to your partner about these
outcomes. Hullo! That is not right.These
people are simply acting. If you
If you are being forced to have are sexually active, always use
sex, talk to an adult your trust condoms to protect yourself
about your concerns. and partner against HIV/STDs
and pregnancy.

Straight talkers speak out

Good sex is made of many characteristics as expressed in your 197 letters. Of the 197 letters we got, 157 of you share the
same view with Ariong G, 17, Kololo SS, Kampala who says: Good sex is done in marriage.” • Have one sexual partner at
a time to reduce the risk of
For Adriko M, Arua emphasises faithfulness by Kayondo S, S3, St John
getting STDs/HIV
United Youth Project, saying: "Good sex is with one Mary Vienna, says: “Good
• Test for HIV/STDs
good sex must be serious partner who only has sex must be between people
together with your
between people who are sex with you." who are willing to do it
partner. Do not have
above 18 years. without force.”
unprotected sex with some
Bisirika A, Kololo SS, says: one whose HIV status you
Bako Zabibu adds that the "Sex is good when you don’t Your partner may use
do not know.
two should be man and get ashamed after doing it.” physical force or threatening
• Avoid sex if you have signs
woman. words: 'If you love me lets
of an STD or are on STD
"In good sex there is no fear have sex.' 'I will kill myself if
treatment.
Emmanuel Ososi, Arua and if you get pregnant you you don't have sex with me.'
United Youth Project, move freely." Viola Babirye, 'You are a coward and non
Be safe and feel good about
says even if it is at right Dabani Girls SS, Busia performer.'
what you are doing. Being safe
age, good sex is safe and means not only safety from
planned. "It is where there are no fears of This is wrong. Talk about
pregnancy and STDs, but also
being imprisoned due to rape what you expect of any
safe from emotional risks like
“Good sex is between or defilement." Kevin Nabwire, relationship to avoid such
worries.
people who love and care Dabani Girls' SS, Busia situations.
about each other,” Kandu If you are already having sex,
D, 18, Manafwa-Magale You may feel ashamed Opiru Christine, Arua
you can stop or use condoms
Straight Talk Club. about your parents, teachers United Youth Project says:
Zubeda Ahmed from correctly for every sexual act.
Muliiisa Academy in Luwero and friends finding out. Your "Good sex shoud be in a
To show love and says good sex is in marriage partner might be worried too. pirvate place like a bedroom
care,there must be after school Becaause you are still young, and not public.
faithfulness to each it is natural to worry. It is wise
other as said by Aisha to wait. Yes, sex in a public place
Saidi, 16, Bembe Luwero. "Good sex is after negotiation and understanding is against the law. You can
between two people to use condoms." Nancy be be arrested for being a
Abdul Mutwalib, Metu SS, Moyo Oziinda, Arua United Youth Project public nuisance.

Prostitution quiz: A 15 year old girl from Arua says people having sex for money like
prostitutes have good sex. Tell us your views about prostitution based
on what you see in your communities. Write to: 22366, Kampala

Quiz: Drug abuse

is on the rise among young
Good sex shouldn't Remember, people. Share with us stories of
l Be with a relative l Sex doesn't make breasts, buttocks how drugs are secretly brought
l Be during your periods or private parts grow in schools by students and
l Hurt or cause pain l It doesn't cure menstrual how those who abuse drugs
l Lead to an abortion pain or make you clever, are affected. Write to: PO BOX,
l Be in exchange for l Sex doesn't need practice to 22366 Kampala(U)
money or gifts make perfect.