Barack Obama met his

Readers are Kenyan father only once when

leaders. Be he was 10. The absence of a
a reader! father was a sadness in his
life. But Obama was brilliant
and hardworking and
made the best of his
life. Now he may be
the next United States
president.

Win a copy of Obama's book!

Answer these questions: Is your father a leader or a
Congs to Maureen Mukisa of Brixton ruler? Are talkative women appreciated in your
Standard. She won the novel Purple 008
l. 14 No.3 July 2 village? Why? Why not? Send your stories to
Hibiscus for her great story "Reunion with Vo Straight Talk PO Box 22366, Kampala.
Dad" in Straight Talk's June quiz.

pe
is never a joke.

Ra
It is never funny.
It is never sexy.
It is always a crime.
Rape is a reality in our world:
R
ape is when a woman or a girl is forced or
deceived into sex. Rape is not caused by an
20% of girls say that they uncontrollable sexual urge that comes over
have suffered sexual a male. "Rape is a behaviour that is chosen," says
violence. Girls, try Timothy Serubiri, counsellor at Naguru Teeange
Centre, Kampala. "Males make the choice to rape."
not to put yourself in
situations where rape About half of all girls who are raped are raped by a
stranger. The others are raped by people known
can happen. But if you to the girl: a classmate, ex-boyfriend, neighbour or
are raped, know that it relative.
is not the end of the
Females who are raped include: girls in
world. There is help out school uniforms, babies, married women,
there for you. girls who have boyfriends, quiet girls who
have never been to a disco, girls who
collect firewood...
TRUE STORY
If the girl is very young or the rape is
"I live in Kabale. I was walking through sorghum very violent, the female may have
gardens when a man I had never seen before to go to theatre for an operation
jumped out and grabbed me. to repair the damaged vagina or
He pushed me to the ground. I fought and anus.
screamed and screamed. But no one came, except
another man, who stood and watched me being raped. He Rape survivors often feel ashamed.
was holding a panga. I thought he might rape me too and But you must tell someone. Even if
also cut me. So I stopped screaming and let the man finish you were somewhere you should not
raping me. After the rape I went to the Health Centre 4. have been -- like at your boyfriend's house --
They gave me ARVs for a month. I have tested and I did or even if you were wearing a mini that your
not get HIV from the rape. They never caught the rapist. I mother told you not to wear, be strong and tell a
did not recognise him." trusted adult. You need treatment.
Sadly this story is a common one: rape in a lonely place.
But what is good and new is that this girl was able to get If someone tries to rape you,
medicine to prevent HIV from "taking root" in her body. shout, scream and make
Read more about this medicine, called PEP, on P3. as much noise as possible.

But now there is hope

There is new medicine that blocks HIV after rape
If you are raped and You look so shocked. This is so Oh, no...Ok, What will I No. No. You will be OK.
Yesterday. Ok, baby,
exposed to HIV-infected Whatever it is, you bad. When? At Frank's do? What if We will rush to the health
can tell me. You Where? calm down. he has HIV? centre. We will get you
semen, you can take house.
must tell, baby. What medicine to stop
medicine that stops the happened? the HIV.
virus from establishing
itself in your body. Called
PEP, this medicine is
ARVs, the same medicine
that many people with
HIV take. But in your case,
you would take it for just
a month.
PEP is now available at I feel so
ashamed.
279 health centres in I was Why did I go
Uganda. raped. there? Really, Granny? Oh God,
I can't believe it.. Thank you..
2 Straight Talk, July 2008

Testimonies of rape If a girl is wearing a miniskirt, it does not mean she deserves to be
raped. "It can happen no matter what she is wearing," says rape
counsellor Serubiri Timothy. Rape is a conscious act on the part of
the male, he says. Victims never ask for it. Rape has nothing to do
with whether you have ever had sex before. You can stay safer by
not going to risky places and not taking alcohol. Listen to your inner
voice (instinct). If you are alone with a boy cousin or in a dormitory
and you sense danger, leave immediately.s.
I live with my uncle. One night I I was going home to Kibuye from Ntinda.
went alone to fetch water from the It was 9 pm. I was alone. A man stopped to
well. As I made my way home, a man give me a lift. I was desperate to reach
jumped from the bush, threw my home, so I accepted. As soon as I entered
jerrycan to the ground and raped the car, he pulled
me. Too scared to tell my uncle, I out a pistol Rape is so
told his wife that I had been in a bad and said if painful but
fight. Two months later, I had an HIV I made there's still light
test at Gulu Youth Centre. It was noise, he at the end of the
dark tunnel.
positive. Girl, 18, Gulu would kill
me. He drove a
Mum couldn't take me with her in short distance,
her new marriage. So I went to live stopped and raped
with her brother. He was not me.
married and would force me into
sex almost daily. I had no one to tell. He dropped me in an
In S3 I found out that I was preg- isolated place. I felt
II advise
advise fellow
fellow nant. When I told my uncle, he said I very bad. When I got
girls in
girls in my
my should abort, but I was scared. He home, I told my
sent me away and moved to an- mother, though it was
situation not
situation not to
to other place. I did not know where hard for me. The next
lose hope.
lose hope. Rape Rape my mum lived so I went to the day, she took me to
is not
not the
the end
end of
of streets. Some ladies who work with Naguru Teenage
is Posta Uganda helped and took me Centre, where I was
life. Girl, 16,
life. Girl, 16, to Naguru Teenage Centre. I was given drugs to prevent
Wakiso then taken to Hope After Rape. They pregnancy and HIV
Wakiso got me a home. Girl, 16, Wakiso transmission. Girl, 17

First get PEP then go to police raped too

Last year over 12,230 If you’ve been raped:
girls aged less than 18 • Know that you have done
were defiled: 231 were nothing wrong.
girls aged between 0 • Tell someone you trust.
and eight years of age. • Go immediately to the
nearest health centre and
tell the health worker what
has happened.
• If you are not offered PEP,
First ask about it and insist on
get receiving it. It is FREE.
PEP, • Accept to be tested for HIV.
then • Ask for emergency family
go to planning pills to prevent
police. pregnancy.
It is not just girls: boys get
These must be taken within
72 hours of the rape.
• Do not bathe. Go to see
the police who will have a
doctor fill out a form,
confirming that you were
raped.
• Keep your clothing as
evidence.
• Get counselling.
Minimise the physical
consequences of rape by
taking early action. Be
strong!
Boys also get raped by both
men and women. Nearly 10%
of males in Uganda have
ys
suffered sexual violence. Bo
can be rap ed in the anu s.
Males find it difficult to talk
it
about rape. They think that
only happens to fem ale s or it
means that they are "girly".
That is wrong.
Boys, if you are sexually All over the world boys ewho
to
assaulted, tell someone. Go are in prison suffer raplt by
a health centre imm edi ate ly older and stronger adu
for PEP. prisoners.

Avoid lonely places: If attacked from If attacked from

Boys!
behind the front " Being
fight and shout if Hit him hard
a man isn’t
attacked in the
stomach
Make fists and
hit him on each
side of his head,
having sex with
• Go only to safe places where others can see you. with your
elbow. With
or on his ears. a woman
Try not to walk by yourself at night or in lonely
places.
your heel,
kick him
against her
• Avoid wearing clothes that suggest that you want hard in his
lower leg or
will.
sex. Do not take alcohol.
knee. Use your
If you have a boyfriend... strength for
• and are afraid to be alone with him, visit him with
a friend. Also, re-think your relationship. Why Dig your fingers women’s
should you be with a boy you fear? hard into his eyes.
• If you visit him when he is alone, decide ahead
Step down
hard on his
benefit.
how much touching is OK for you. Do not get
caught by your feelings and just let things happen.
foot with
your heel.
Prevent violence
• Move away if he touches you in ways that you do Reach back
with your
against girls.
not like. Your feelings are warning you that
something worse may happen.
hand, grab
his testicles Lift your knee,
They are
• If he wants sex and you do not, tell him that you and
squeeze
and push it as
hard and fast as
your future
are not ready.
• If he insists, get up and leave. Say NO with your them hard. you can into his wives."
testicles (balls).
body. Shout if you have to. Tina Musuya, Centre for Domestic
Violence Prevention, Kampala
 3 Straight Talk, July 2008

The
PEP science
preventsofHIV
PEPinfection
Post Exposure Prophylaxis Do not waste time
(PEP) is an exciting medical If you have been raped and need PEP,
advance. In the past, females the doctor will first test you for HIV. If
who were raped just had to you test HIV-negative you will receive
pray that they did not get PEP. If possible the accused rapist will
HIV. Now there is medicine also be tested. Says Dr Watiti: "Unfortu-
they can take. nately, rape survivors waste valuable
But rape survivors should take PEP time by first going to LCs and police.
within 24 hours of being raped. Make sure you start on PEP, then begin
After 72 hours PEP has much less the legal process. Alongside ARVs, you
success in stopping may be given emergency family plan-
the HIV. ning to stop preg-
nancy."
What is PEP?
PEP is a four week You have a right
course of to PEP: PEP is free
antiretroviral All rape and defilement
tablets (ARVs). survivors, boys in-
ARVs are the cluded, are entitled to
medicines that free PEP treatment at
people who have any of the 279 centres
HIV take to control that offer ARVs in
the virus. In the Uganda. There should
case of PEP, the be one near you.
ARVs can stop HIV Dr Stephen Dr Betty
from entering your Watiti Kasanka Dr Betty Kasanka is a HAVE HOPE: You do not have to get infected with HIV if raped.
body's cells, multiply- Senior Medical Officer You can take PEP. PEP works best when given within 24 hours of the
ing and "taking root". at the Ministry of Health. rape. You can get PEP from Naguru Teenage Centre, Mildmay, Gulu
She says: "If you are Referral Hospital and the 279 sites that offer ARVs in Uganda.
"When HIV enters raped, PEP treatment is
the body it needs an your first priority."
enzyme to start
reproducing inside PEP is new so health
workers are being
RADIO COMPETITION!
our cells," says Dr
Stephen Watiti of sensitised on it. If you Send Straight Talk your one-page story
Mildmay. "PEP blocks find a health worker about rape. It can be a personal story (we
that enzyme." who is not familiar with will not broadcast your name). Or it can be
PEP, Dr Kasanka advises about rape in your community. Does it
"Sometimes we give you to persist until you happen? Why? To whom? By whom? What
HIV replicates by copying receive treatment.
you two drugs. But if itself using the genetic happens? What should be done? We will put your
the chance is very material in the nucleus of the stories on our Straight Talk radio shows. Prizes
high that the rapist Dr Kasanka confirms:
human cell. PEP prevents
"PEP is free for rape await you.
had HIV, we may give this. PEP stops the
you three drugs." reproduction of HIV. survivors."

A Straight

Masaka students ask about condoms Talker

demonstrates
how to use a
condom.
In June, Straight Talk received many condom questions from Kizza Memorial School, Masaka. The
questions were real and relevant so we put them to you, the readers. Thank you, guys, we
received 102 great letters from you. You all win prizes, including pads for every girl who wrote in.
Remember, knowing about condoms does not mean you have to start sex. Get the knowledge and
when the right time comes, you will know what to do.
Yes, not only do condoms prevent
pregnancy, they also stop HIV if
I hear condoms prevent pregnancy. Do
they prevent HIV too? E Kayondo
side and the other leg the other
side. Then with two fingers, she
HOW TO USE A
used correctly. Use a new condom
for each round. G Bwambale, S4,
To remove it, the girl should squat, put her
removes the condom from the
vagina. RJ Rubongoya,
CONDOM
finger in her vagina and catch it. St Jude • Be serious. Focus with
Rwensori HS, Busia Kahungabunyonyi PS, Fort
College, Bugiri ST Club your partner to
Portal
Yes, if condoms are used When the condom remains in the vagina, ensure correct
consistently and correctly and the girl needs to sit and adjust the leg one What can be done if a condom use.
instructions followed, they can remains in the girl's vagina? M • Check the
prevent HIV and pregnancy. Betty Nakiganda
D, Metu SS, Moyo expiry date.
When a condom is not used for the • Feel if the
Is it true that if you have sex in the second round, a girl can get condom pack is air tight.
first round with a condom and the pregnant. The sperm can still be Have more than one
second round without, you cannot flowing from the urethra. Use condom.
get pregnant? R Yiga condoms for all rounds. Iyundhu
A, Bukoyo SS, Iganga
• Have the packet nearby.
No! You can definitely get pregnant! • Open it from the corner.
The first ejaculation is the same as Please note. Some Straight Avoid biting or pricking it.
the second and the third. If you're Talkers thought that a condom • Hold the tip of the condom
not wearing a condom, the girl can could move inside the girl and that to leave space for semen.
get pregnant. Deusdedit she would need an operation to
Manira-gaba, St Paul's get it out. That is false. But what is
• Roll the condom to the
Seminary, Kabale true is that the girl will have been bottom of the penis. Now
exposed to HIV and semen spilt you can have sex.
No, it is not true. The sperm never • After sex, withdraw the
stop coming out or being from the condom. She can get
pregnant and infected. penis when the penis is
manufactured. Fertilisation can
happen. Nafula EM, S3, Dabani still erect. Hold the
condom carefully to avoid
spilling the semen.
Straight Talk knows that many girls leave school due to pregnancy. Others die after aborting. Clearly some • Wrap the used condom in
young people are having sex. If you are sexually active, never have unprotected sex. Test for HIV with your paper and burn it. Or you
partner. Girls who are sexually active also need family planning like pills or injections. can throw it into a latrine.
4 Straight Talk, July 2008
control. Look at them as your
sisters. Appreciate their beauty but
do not go beyond that. You can
control your sexual feelings.

Dear Free school fees

I am in S1. I have a man who
promised to pay my school fees

SYFA
since I don’t have anyone else.
He wants sex. I am very
interested in my studies. What
3666
2236
Boxx 22
O. Bo can I do?
P.P. O. A L A TH, 17, Moroto HS, Moroto
M P
KK AA M P A L A TH dear, I appreciate you want to
study and have a future. But you
cannot put your life at a risk of
Awful smell contracting diseases like AIDS by
I normally smell in my private having sex with your sponsor. Be
parts. Am I normal? open and tell him that you
TC, 17, St Andrews SS, appreciate his offer to pay your fees,
Rubanda, Kabale but you can’t have sex with him.
NO, it is not normal for private parts
to smell. You could have an “It’s cool to delay sex.” Bugokho ST Club, Mbale Forced marriage
infection. Bathe twice a day and life is going to end and I am different school, the girl My parents died. I live with my

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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
keep your pubic hair short. Use stupid. Poni E, 15 Lira SS communicated with him on my aunt who tells me to leave school
normal bathing or bar soap. If the Dear Poni, What about you? What phone. Then he said I had an and get married. What can I
smell continues, visit a health do you want? Do you believe your affair with his girlfriend. do? AL, S1, Kitgum
centre. life is going to end? You should Ashiraf, 19, Koboko Modern SS, Comprehensive
know that your parents are your Koboko Talk to your aunt about the
Vaginal discharge best friends. They want the best for If there is nothing going on importance of education. Explain
I am worried. How can I stop you and know that discos are not between you and that girl, then let that what you need now is a sound
passing white things from my good for you. You could be beaten your friend understand that clearly. education and not marriage. If you
vagina? WB, Benedict HS, or raped. Don’t succumb (give in) Explain to him that it was a fail to convince her, talk to a
Tororo to peer pressure. misunderstanding and you teacher who can explain to her on
WB, white vaginal discharge which wouldn’t want to break up their your behalf. If all
does not smell and is not sticky is Menstruation relationship. Discourage them from this fails, involve
normal and natural. It cleans your I am 20 years old, but have using your phone. the police family
vagina. But if it is yellowish or never menstruated. Viola, protection unit.
greenish or has an unpleasant Kitswamba SDA SS, Kasese Sexual feelings Forced
smell, it could be an infection. You Dear Viola, Visit a health centre for When I meet nice looking girls, I marriage is
then need to visit a health centre. a check-up. Menstruation normally think about having sex with against the law.
starts between the ages of 11-16. them. I do not know what is Stella Ampire,
Do not go to discos happening to me. EB, 14, All Counsellor,
My father advised me not to go My friend’s girlfriend Saints SS, Ochiba, Arua Hope After
to discos, but my friends force My friend had a girlfriend in my You cannot have sex with every Rape
me. When I refuse, they say my class. Because he was in a beautiful girl you see. You need self-

WIN! Know your body: girls Stabr

ucl
Is it true that a thin layer because the hymen gets broken by
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Straight Talk’s star club

covers the vagina? the penis. this month is Dabani Girls,
Namasaba J, Busano SS Busia. The club patron, Mr
Hello Namasaba. You are talking However, the hymen, if it is there, is
very elastic, and most girls do not Joel Kaka Yatse, wins a
about the hymen. This is a very thin
delicate layer of mucous bleed when they have sex for the mobile phone. Read
membrane. first time. about the club in ST
August.
Usually it does not cover the According to the book, Clinical
opening to the vagina completely. Protocols in Adolescent Gynaecology,
It has a hole or holes in it to allow it is not possible for a doctor to
determine by examing the hymen if World Population Day
Purple Hibiscus menstrual blood to come out.
a girl who has reached puberty is a Uganda’s population increases by
virgin. According to Paediatrics (J one million people each year!
winners In about one (1) out of every 2000
baby girls, the hymen covers the
entire entrance to the vagina. If this
Carole, 1987), the condition of the
hymen is not a reliable indicator of
whether a female past puberty has
This is worrying. Land and water
supplies are under pressure.
We were so impressed by the hymen does not disappear or
actually engaged in sex. Family planning is not only for
absolutely kawa (nice) stories by develop an opening by the time the
older people. Us young people
Diana Murerwa (Old Kampala SS) girl reaches puberty, she will need
“The hymen can vary in size and be use FP when we delay sex, stop
and Joel Otim (Naalya SS) that to see a doctor. But this is very, very
very hard to find, even in a person sex or use condoms correctly and
we rewarded them with their very rare. The scientific ”job” of the
who has not had sex.” consistently.
own copies of the Nigerian novel, hymen is unknown.
Purple Hibiscus! Another 19 of So, NJ, do We girls can also use pills or
By the time a girl
you are also winning personal not over- injections. Boys, can you be a
reaches puberty,
copies. think about good father when you are still
the hymen is
NEXT QUIZ: already very thin.
It gets stretched
by sports and
the hymen.
What is
important is
studying? No.

For more on FP, visit the AIC,

your FPAU, Marie
ENTER AND WIN work. It may also
behaviour. Stopes, Naguru,
simply reduce or
What are girlfriends and Stay a virgin Gulu or Kitgum
disappear on its
boyfriends for? Tell us the stories if you have youth centres or
own.
not had sex. any health centre
of your friendships. What was the or private
Traditionally We hope we
purpose of the relationship? Did have midwife.
it make you happy? How did it some people say
answered By Irene Kituyi,
end? Write to PO Box that a virgin will
your STF radio
bleed on first
22366, Kampala question. journalist
intercourse

STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262030/1, 0414-530088 Kampala (U), Fax: 0414-534858,
E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug, strtalk@imul.com, Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug Executive Director: C. Watson, Communications Director: T. Agutu, Editorial Manager: E. Kimuli,
Editors: G. Awekofua, M. Akello, D. Agaba, J. Abongowath, Writer: J. Pulik Designers: G.B Mukasa, M.eB Kalanzi, Funded by DANIDA, DFID, SIDA, Printer: The New Vision