Youth volunteers at STF Boys, is your

father a leader
or a ruler? Girls,
are talkative
women
appreciated in
your village?
Why? Why not?
Send true
stories and win
a copy of
Dreams from
my Father, by
Barak Obama,
Straight Talkers, what do you do in
your long vacs? ST is looking for Democratic
young people aged 18-21 who speak candidate for
Lukonzo, Ateso, Kupsabiny and 2008 US president.
Lugbara! Send your CV l. 14 No. 6 June
to PO Box 22366 Kampala.
Vo

Telling your life as a novel Chimamanda Adichie is the In February we asked Straight Talkers to write short stories: almost 100
author of Purple Hibiscus. responded. As promised, 20 of you win copies of the novel Purple Hibiscus. Ten
She wrote it when she was runner up winners will each get a T-shirt. Thanks to Dokolo Progressive
23, the same age as many SS, Ruhaama SS, Agwata SS and Isoke Memorial in Kitgum for being star
Straight Talkers. She is a schools! We especially liked Annet’s story. When you start reading, you do not
role model and inspiration. want to stop! Enjoy reading. Please note that some of the stories are fiction.

A love story gone wrong

By Namagembe Annet, Dokolo I screamed at him. “Easy,” he said smiling
Progressive Secondary School sheepishly. I broke into tears.
I was the type of girl As I dressed, I noticed that wounds had developed
who easily gave in between my legs, and I was
to peer pressure. discharging blood.
If I had resisted But Peter was
the influence of courteous to lead
my friends, I me back to school.
would be telling But this courtesy
you a glorious ended there.
experience. But Weeks later he was
found bragging
this is what
among boys that
happened to
he had used me.
me. Boys began to
resent speaking to
My friends got me a
me while girls out
boyfriend. Peter was
rightly abused me
tall, handsome, gentle
as a ‘finished’ one.
and smart. I loved it
I became a
when he gave me
disgrace among
money. The first flowers
the born again
I ever received were
community and a
from Peter. He made
laughing stock at
me feel loved.
school.
I am proud
One day Peter took me
Three months to be a winner.
out. He ordered wine My dream is
later I developed a
but I refused because I to be an
daily sickness that confined me to the dormitory. I
was born again. Then he ordered a Coke. It was accountant or
was confirmed pregnant and dismissed from
already opened when it came. I sensed something agriculturalist.
school. I missed my S3 third term examination. I
was terribly wrong. I knew in my heart that alcohol
was deep in the village, far off in the rural area in
or sedatives had been added to it. But I did not I am a Straight Talk chairperson in
Dokolo. A year has gone by and I now have a
want to offend Peter. So I neglected my conscience my school. There are so many
healthy baby boy. But I do not know who his father
and accepted the soda. benefits like educative messages. I
is since many boys lay with me that night. I also
worry about HIV. I pray for strength to test. am very concerned about the plight
It was not long before I became oblivious of what of girls who get unwanted
was happening to me. I awoke in the morning to pregnancies and drop out of
find myself lying in a derelict room. My petticoat was
w s f o r H I V + t eens school. A Namagembe
hanging on a nail on the wall. Beneath my skirt, I felt
my knickers was missing. Then I saw it strewn on the Ne at 32 new sites. The number of young
floor. Three used condoms also lay there. Currently, Uganda has about 140,000 people on ARVs will double over the
children Living with HIV, and each year next few years. If you think you need
another 20,000 are born with the virus. Of ARVs, please visit a health centre.
I felt so dirty. Suddenly I felt a searing pain across my
the 50,000 children and adolescents who
heart. From behind the door, I heard male voices currently need ARVs, only 8000 are receiving Straight Talk works with the Paediatric
thanking Peter for letting them sleep with me. I was Infectious Diseases Clinic and Mildmay
them. to support HIV+ teens. Positive teens,
dumfounded. Peter entered the room. But all this is set to change. Next month send your stories to PO Box 22366, K'la.
Baylor University, working with local
“Get up and we go,” he said. “What have you done government, AIC and other partners, will
to me?” start offering ARVs to children and teens BEST LETTERS WIN PRIZES
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2 Straight Talk, June 2008
Barak Obama
hardly knew
his father, a
brilliant but
difficult
Stories of our fathers
Kenyan. To this Instead we went to a home on
day, he still
has questions Naguru and to our surprise Dad
about why his introduced us to a woman, saying:
father left him “This is your new mom!”
and his Liza asked: “But Dad didn’t we leave
mother. Mum at home?” “OK, this is your
Fathers are
important! second mom,” said Dad.

We found Mum in the village and

L
ike Barrack Obama's took her to our little cottage. This
search for the father he hurt Dad. He was in a state of
never really knew, many conflicting loyalty. He pointed at
of you also wrote about fathers. Mum, declaring to whoever cared
to listen: “You are no longer my wife.
I have found someone better. Leave
New wife immediately.”
By Joel Otim, Naalya SS,
Namugongo Dad went to stay with his new wife,
but after a year they broke up. Mum
Mum used to tell us how Dad left gave us the perfect gift of love that
her soon after she conceived Liza, was to never remarry but raise us.
my younger sister. After seven years,
we had learnt to live without a Another precious gift was Dad
father. becoming a Christian. He pays for all
One day Mum said: “Nicho, Liza, I our necessities. Recently he
have a surprise. Tomorrow we travel confessed that he hadn’t mean to
to Dad’s village.” After that, a new hurt us and said he has good plans
year came, and Dad came back to “Liza, Nicho, hurry up because Africans, trying to emulate foreign for us. You can never know how
live with us. He would drop us at we’ve got to reach early!” Said Dad. traditions,” was the murmur we beautiful it is to be at the top of a
school, which saved us the Another trip to the village – Mum heard from Dad. mountain unless you have been in
humiliation of taxis. The bliss went was not coming so she gave us the valley. That is how we finally
on for two years. money and made us pray. “You We did not go straight to the village. experienced fatherly love.

d
Army man Reunion with da
I was nine when my father escaped from home. No one knew why but people s four. I
My father left when I wa
guessed that he had many unpaid loans. I am the first born so mum and I had to en ed. I
never knew what happ
toil for our family’s survival. I would wake up at 5 am to milk the cows. y wo uld
would feel sad. Mumm
From school I would escape to rush home to graze the 10 goats we had. People bi. In his
say he was in Nairo
would say: “He has copied his father’s behaviour,” referring to my escaping. for
absence I was sent home
Only in 2005 had my sisters grown enough to graze the cows. verty be ca me a
school fees. Po
us beca use mu m had
problem for
One evening I saw a vehicle. At home I I rea d lize
no job. That was when
found a man conversing with my mum r. In P6 I
the importance of a fathe
happily as if they knew each other. At tim e she
asked Mum again. This
the dining table, she said: “He is your an oth er wife.
told me: Daddy had ed
father.” Excitedly we all hugged him and dd y ret urn
But one Sunday Da
started crying. He then narrated that he rat ed . Mu kis a
home. We celeb
was an army man. One month later he , S3,
Moreen, Writers Club
left. Now we are sure he is alive in the an da rd
Brixton St
army. Tarsus Niwamanya, S3,
Ruhaama SS ls
me from the rebe
When Dad came ho return. It was long since the rebels had
that he would r sisters
We had given up hope o deep poverty. My fou
ens: where to g e t ARVs captured him. When he
wa s ca ug ht we we nt int
five years he returned!
We were so
HIV +ve te s for us . Th en aft er
married just to get thing ask him how he had su
rvived.
Kawempe HC IV happy that we did not ta SS, Do ko lo
No rth er n Ce nt ra l
W es te rn Ka mp ala
s Obura Raphael, Agwa
Ma sin di Kir ya nd on
go Ka mp ala Sa tel lite
Ho sp ita l Kitebi HC IV
Awach HC IV IV Kiruddu HC IV
Gu lu
IV Bu liis a Buliisa HC IV ntr e
Amuru Atiak HC Kib og a Ntw ete HC Kanyanya TA SO Ce
IV
Amuru Anaka HC
Kit gu m Kit gu m Go
Ho spi tal
v

IV
Kib aa le Ka ga di Ho IV
Ky en joj o Ky
KamwengeRukunju
en joj o
sp ita l
HC
HC IV So ro ti
So rot i Ho sp ita l
Other winners
Kit gu m Padibe HC Ntungamo Rwasha
maire
de r Dr. Am bro sso li Kaberamaido HC IV • Twetiise B, Ruhama SS,
Pa He alt h Lwala HC IV
Me mo ria l Ho spi tal , Ntungamo.
Ka lon go Ce nt re IV • Nantale A, Brixton Standard
Oyam Anyeke HC IV Ka nu ng u Kihihi HC
IV
HC IV
Ka se se RC OE
sp ita l High School, Gayaza
Ap ac Aduku HC IV Ka ba le Bukinda HC IV Kil em be Mi ne s Ho
a • Niringiyimana A, King Jesus
Do ko lo DokoloHC
IV Ka ba le Hamurw Bw era Ho sp ita l
Rwasande HC IV College, Kasese
Ea st er n Ka m pa la • J Kalyegira, Bwikya Muslim SS,
Am uri a Amuria HC
IV Mu lag o Ho sp ita l Hoima
Ku mi Ku mi Ho spi tal Naguru HC IV • A Niwahereza, St Paul’s
IV
Bu da ka Budaka HC IV Seminary, Kabale
Sir on ko Bu da dir i HC
Pa llis a Pa llis a Ho
spi tal • J Angwec, Agwata SS, Lira
spi tal
Bu du da Bu du da Ho IV • D Opio, Amolatar SS
Ma na fwa Magale HC IV • A Apio, Medical Student, Gulu
Bu tal eja Busolwe HC University
Bu sia Masafu HC IV
Bu gir i Bu gir i Ho spi tal • E Katushabe, 15, Madindi HS
spi tal • L Opio, Dokolo Progressive SS
Ka mu li Ka mu li Ho
• Murerwa Diana, Old Luke Opio rejoices over his win.
Ce nt ra l HC IV
Kampala SS We will send the prizes to the
Mu ko no Nkokonjeru • Ahiro Vicky, Rev Jabuloni Isoke
Lya nto nd e Ho spi tal rest of the winners through your
Memorial College, Kitgum school post office box.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
 3 Straight Talk, June 2008

F Love & relationships

alling in love and
managing that first
relationship is not easy.
Sometimes you fall in love,
and there’s no relationship: just love with flowers. I could not help
from afar. Sometimes you have a gawking. The petals smiled.
relationship, and there is no love.
Whatever your situation… stay very But Martin was nowhere to be
safe.
seen. My boyfriend was everything a
woman could look for. His eyes
reflected a bright future. After
Banana smile twenty minutes I dialed his number:
By Stella Naluyinda, S4, no answer.
Kaberamaido SS
“Wow, you look incredibly “Martin is always an early bird…” A
beautiful,” mother flattered. “Where thousand thoughts raced through
are you going dressed like this?” my mind and persuaded me to go
“I am not letting the cat out of the to his apartment. I found him with a
bag,” I answered, meaning: I am not girl. “Who is she?” I asked rudely. I
telling you. I quickly ran out. gave Martin a heavy and well-
calculated slap on his cheek for his
At the hotel, I was ushered by betrayal.
waiters in black and white. “Are you
Madam Stellah?” they asked with a “All I have done is love you and that’s
banana smile. ”Yes, I am,” I how you have paid me,” I shouted.
answered proudly. I was a celebrity “It’s over!” I cried for eternity. Later I
and had become famous like got courage to move on with my
Juliana Kanyomozi. The waiters life. I decided to live without a
directed me to a place decorated boyfriend.

The best boy in my heart

were in the same school.
I loved him very much. By then we
But I would tell him: “Be patient, my
This was a boy who wanted to have sex.
g you up to S4.”
love.” He would say: “My dear, I am givin
s. But I stood my ground. I told him: “I
He even had the support of my relative
e studying.” I would plead: “I will do
have a role model and want to complet
standard.”
anything you want when I reach my saw
goin g to give in, he wrote abusive letters, secretly
When he saw I was not to him : “Ple ase forg ive me if I
up. I wro te
other girls and threatened to beat me on.”
willing to share you with another pers
have disappointed you but I am not
now settled in my new school, reading
I couldn’t stay in the same school. I am
, 15, S2, Dokolo Progressive SS
to realize my dream. Pasca Atworo

Take your
time and
choose the
Straight
Talkers,
always
Big boom sweets
best! think When I joined secondary I clicked S2 without getting a girlfriend. But in second term came a girl so
beautiful that she beat my understanding. Always I could dream of her but feared to tell her. Then I got the
Says Betty critically
and idea to convince her to be my girlfriend. Unfortunately she was a Manchester United fan. Still I fired her
Amusugut, the question. She totally refused. But the next day I brought her big boom sweets. From that day she
Moroto HS, ST express
believed I loved her. Samuel Amanyire S4 King Jesus College, Kasese
club chairperson yourself.

Surprise in exam room The herdsman

I was five when my sister started a romantic relationship with our herdsman.
One day he tried to convince her to have sex but she refused. The second
Jamillah is 16, a double orphan who lives with her grandmother. Her granny
time she gave in and the herdsman infected her with gonorrhea.
starts to hear rumours that she is in love with Ahmed.
Granny says: “My child, I request you kindly to leave alone Ahmed.”
After she recovered, my parents begged her to tell them who had played sex
Jamillah reacts: “Leave me alone, you always watch over me even when I go to
with her, but she was adamant. Eventually she started going with him again
the latrine.”
to see the cattle. One Monday
Unfortunately Jamillah has sex with Ahmed and becomes
evening the herdsman again
pregnant. In her O level paper –
asked my sister for sex. Then
physics – Jamillah is seen
he raped her. My sister got
uncomfortable but tells the
pregnant. When the
supervisor that she is just thinking
pregnancy matured, she
about the answer. Hardly had he
spent sleepless nights of
turned his back, when Jamillah
pain.
knelt down. Suddenly a baby is
crying.
On a Friday at exactly 4
pm, the time for
“What’s this?” The supervisor
delivering came. The
shouts. Ahmed completely denies
doctors decided to
Jamillah, who becomes helpless.
operate. This marked
Her granny sends her away and
the end of her life in this
she now goes around looking for
world. Orishaba Bless,
local jobs like digging to survive.
Ruhama SS,
Ninsiima Eunice, Kamwezi
Ntungamo
PS, Kabale
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
4 Straight Talk, June 2008
and disorganizes the immune trick me in this way. S Turyatunga, menstruation? B Mirembe
system. AIDS comes after HIV. AIDS Mityana Agro Vet Institute. No, tight pants cannot prevent
is the sicknesses got when the HIV Thank, Samuel. That is false. If you menstruation. Every girl undergoes

Dear virus weakens the body to the

extent that it cannot fight off
infection and diseases like malaria,
have HIV, the test will show positive
because Septrin does not kill the
virus, it only helps the infected
menstruation. It is a body change
that shows that a
girl is going from

SYFA
cough and others. That is why person to keep strong. All those you one step to
people living with HIV need to hear are false “stories”. If you are another. It is
resort to positive living. worried about a girl tricking you, do internal.
3666
2236
Boxx 22
O. Bo to test together. Couples, we want
P.P. O. you to test together.
M P A A L Washing the vagina
KK AA M P A L A People saying that when washing the
vagina, you have to put a finger HIV transmission
inside to clean it. What is the right If I get HIV today and the following
way to wash it? M Makyonddwa, day I get a new girlfriend, does she get
Kyotera the disease or not? M Waburoko,
Don’t put in fingers because they Manafwa
can bring infection or even Yes, Moses. You can infect her! In
damage you in case you have long fact, you are extremely infectious
nails. You may feel like a queen when you yourself have just been
with those cutely-shaped nails. But infected. But what we want to know
long nails can injure you. Keep if why you, Moses, would have sex
Dear Straight Talkers, Do you them short. The best way to wash is with a person when you do not
know that by listening to to use plain clean water, not-harsh know their status? You are being like
Straight Radio shows you can soap and do not put fingers inside. a child who tries to touch a lamp to
get answers to burning really see whether it burns or not.
questions? We have shows in PLWHA and condom use Test together, and use condoms.
14 languages! Nurses Namusisi Why are PLWHA (people living with
Zaitun and Angela Baitwabusa HIV and AIDS) advised to use Tenderness in the breasts
(above) answered the questions condoms yet they are already What causes tenderness in the breast
below on our Luganda ST infected? Ssinabulya H, Bukulula, when you are menstruating? P
show. They work at Hope Masaka. Nanziri, Kisweera, Masaka
Clinic, Lukuli, Kampala. All Thanks, they need condoms to It is caused by hormonal changes
young people are welcome! avoid infecting other people. It also during menstruation, which cause
helps to protect themselves against the breast tissue to hold more water
HIV and AIDS reinfection. Reinfection is really bad than normal. Some people feel like
Are HIV and AIDS the same thing, because it gives the virus more the breasts are full. For some, they
and can I get HIV and I don’t get energy to destroy you faster. are hardness. This is normal. But if
AIDS? C Navvubya, High the swellings are severe and painful,
Standard SS, Kateera, Kiboga Septrine and VCT visit a health centre.
Some people say that when you take
Septrin and you go for VCT, even Tight pants & Wearing tight jeans can-
Thanks, Christine, HIV and AIDS
when you have HIV, the virus is not menstruation not stop menstruation. It
are different altogether. HIV is the
detected. I am worried that a girl can If I put on tight pants, can I prevent is internal.
virus that attacks the human body

Know about cancer of the cervix New QUIZ

Straight Talkers, what do know

C
ancer of the cervix is the infection by delaying sex, having as
leading cause of cancer few partners as possible and always
about condoms? Please advise
death among women in using condoms. your fellow youth.
Uganda. The cancer is caused by
human papilloma virus (HPV). A vaccine has been developed I hear that the condom prevents
HPV is transmitted through sex. pregnancy: does it prevent HIV?
against HPV. Countries like the UK I hear that if a boy has sex with a girl
So cancer of the cervix is actually and US have using a condom for the first round
a cancer that is transmitted as an started giving and the second round he does not
STD. it to girls who use it, she cannot get pregnant. Is it
are aged true? What can be done if the
Cancer of the cervix can be about 10. condom remains in the girl’s
treated and cured if detected The vaccine vagina? E Kayondo, R Yiga, M
early through a Pap smear (an may soon be Nakiganda, Kizza Memorial
examination of the cervix by a coming to School, Masaka
doctor). Unfortunately the test is Boys and girls, the best protection Uganda.
not widely available in Uganda. for you is to reduce chances of HPV Listen out for news of it. Send sincere
advice and your stories to
CALLING ALL BAMASABA YOUTH! If you become
ne
pregnant, everyo did.
u
Straight Talk, PO Box 22366
Kampala
yo
Peter Matanda, 24, is Straight Talk’s will know what
new Lumasaba radio presenter. Here you com e unpopular.
You be labour
see him packing prizes for winning listeners. You suffer during e too
Yes! ST honours its promises and sends out because you ar
normally.
many gifts. yo g to deliver High,
un
Lydia T, Rock
Peter says: “I have finished a degree in mass Tororo
comm at Makerere. Reading Straight Talk
helped me a lot. In secondary school, I learnt
to abstain from sex and alcohol and to avoid
friends who mislead.
I concentrated on my education using ST. STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION
Without ST, maybe I would not have been Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262030,
focused enough to reach university. To the 0312-262031, 0414-530088 Kampala (U), Fax: 0414-534858,
young people, sex is not everything.” E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug, Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug,
Director: C. Watson, Deputy Director: T. Agutu, Editorial Manager: E.
Peter is an old boy of Bugobero High School. Shouts to all students of Bugobero. Kimuli, Editors: G. Awekofua, M. Akello, J. Abongowath, D.
Listen to the Khukanikha Lubuula on Open Gate, Saturdays 7:30pm, and on UBC Agaba, Chief Designer: M.eB Kalanzi, Designer: G.B Mukasa,
Sundays 8:30pm and send stories to PO Box 22366, Kampala! Funded by DANIDA, DFID, Irish Aid Printer: The New Vision
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