Katikkiro rallies men in the fight against HIV/AIDS

The Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga, has highlighted the importance of men in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.

Mayiga said that in the African settings, men have an upper hand in making key decision in the community.

He made the remarks while welcoming the UNAIDS communication advisor, Natlie Regard, to Bulange Mengo on Friday.

United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS) is an organisation that leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of Zero HIV/AIDS.

“Behind closed door it is again pretty much in the hands of men. To  a large extend, it is important the media people get this because if you scatter around this issue you will never get the desired results,” he said.

He urged men to take the mantle and lead the fight of HIV/AIDS in their communities so that their families are able to live in healthy conditions hence promoting economic prosperity.

“In the true African settings in which of course live, the men take charge of what take place behind closed doors most of the time, so it must be men’s responsibility that women they engaged with are healthy, they are the mothers of the nation and they must be healthy, ”he said.

Katikkiro stressed that if the mothers and the children are not healthy even the nation is not going to be healthy and so men themselves are not going to be healthy.

“The Kabaka is seen as genuinely interested in the welfare of his people and Ugandans in general as a kingdom we have got a vision an achievable vision of taking the people of Buganda to the summit of economic and social wellbeing when they are fully enjoying their freedoms,” he said.

Natlie Regard, the UNAIDS communication advisor, said the step taken by the kingdom of Buganda is great move in the fight against AIDS on the continent.

She said cultural leaders can do more in the fight against this killer disease as one way of improving the well being of their people.