MPs: "Men in rural areas don’t want women to practice family planning"

AMBROSE GAHENE

Women Members of Parliament have said government’s effort to promote Family Planning countrywide is hampered by the fact that men are reluctant to adhere to family planning programs because of cultural beliefs of having many children for security and economic benefits.

The members of parliament voiced this concern during a one day conference, at Kampala Imperial Royale Hotel, aimed at  accelerating progress towards achieving the Uganda Family Planning 2020 Vision.

“Due to cultural believes, husbands don’t allow women to practice family planning deep in rural areas. There is need therefore to involve religious leaders and other stakeholders, to sensitise men about this negative belief”, said Mpigi  Woman MP Sarah Nakawunde.

Jovah Kamateka, Mitooma Woman MP said family planning campaign requires commitment and collaboration between local leaders and government.

“We should not look like we are imposing the program on local communities, as this may create unnecessary conflict”, she said.

The Uganda Family Planning chapter Chairperson Spellanza Baguma Muhenda said parliament has walked a long journey to ensure a budget is put in place for family planning programmes.

“We are not at 15 per cent as required by the Abuja health sector declaration, but we are moving on. We call upon all stakeholders to do their best”, she said.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative at the conference, Roseline Achola, said in 2017, Uganda made tremendous achievements in family planning campaigns.

“We have humanitarian initiative to reach in all hard to reach areas”, she said, citing hard to reach areas to include; Karamoja and Batwa of South western Uganda among others.