The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has blamed the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases among the youth and other countrymen and women on the government.

This was during a press conference that took place at the party headquarters at Uganda House on Thursday, November 29, 2023.

The spokesperson of the UPC, Sharon Arach Oyat, stated that the government has encouraged the use of family planning contraceptives among youth as young as 15 years of age.

“By providing these contraceptives to the youth, it simply means that the government has authorized them to go have unprotected sex and not get pregnant. This has increased the HIV/AIDS cases among the youth.” Arach stated.

The spokesperson also said the government and parents are not doing enough while talking to the youth about HIV/AIDS.

“The government should get more spaces to talk to the youth, mostly in schools, and parents shouldn’t shy away from talking to their children about this issue of HIV/AIDS,” she added.

These remarks come at a time when Uganda is set to join the rest of the world on December 1st to commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, a day that unites people around the world to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.