Straight Talk Foundation: Karamoja

Ah, off to drink again! If men worked as much as us, our family would be richer.

I love my culture and am proud to be a Karimojong

Uganda is committed to empowering women by 2015.

Nakiru Tereza, Moroto

8 0 0 2 y a M 3 . o N Vol. 14

Tell us how many hours your mother works compared to your father. Is it equal? WRITE TO PO BOX 22366 KLA

Beautiful Karamoja hat do you know about Karamoja? The Karimojong are Ugandans with strong traditions. This has made some people feel negatively about them. Yet their society has strengths that we can learn from.

W

Straight Talk travelled to Karamoja to get beautiful stories to share with you. Read on....

Less HIV in Karamoja Did you know that the prevalence of HIV in Karamoja is very low? Of Karimojong aged 15-49, less than 1% have HIV. This is far less than the national figure of 6.4% and far far less than the over 8% of 15-49 year olds in the Central and Central North who have the virus. The question here is, why? We tried to find out. One reason, it seems, is that they are serious on sex and marriage. Adikyo, an Elder from Naduket Moroto told us: "In Karimojong culture, boys and girls below 18 do not marry, and sex before marriage is a taboo. When a young man of 20 years or above wants to marry, he will identify a mature girl. He will negotiate with her parents for brideprice, which he pays and marries her. Most Karimojong men marry one wife. One can marry another wife only if the first wife cannot give birth. But still he does not divorce her. "

This young warrior is holding his traditional stool. See page 3 and learn how it is also a pillow.

Positive Young warrior:

loves cows In future when I get a wife, I will be faithful to her. I fear HIV. In my culture people say HIV is a curse for people who have sex anyhow. I left school because my friends were out of school. I wanted to be part of them. I regret leaving school. I raid animals, and I am proud of having many cows, but I fear being killed. Lomurai, 18, Naduket, Moroto

Culture in Karamoja

• girls marry on average marriage at 19.3 years, a year later than in the rest of Uganda! • there is less sex before marriage: 90% of unmarried females and 76% of unmarried males aged 15-24 in Karamoja have not had sex.

: y r a n o i t c Di e- The growing rate Prevalenc o t t n a w d n a e v lo Cherish- To protect something rk Chores- The daily wo especially at home

Negative

Culture in Karamoja

• distrust of education • rape of brides • cattle raiding.

I am smart in my blanket skirt People from all continents come here. This means we are special people. I loved school so much but my parents were not supportive. I resorted to brewing alcohol. Brewing is where I get money for survival. If I get an opportunity to go back to school, why not? I admire educated people. They look nice. Nakiru Tereza, Moroto

Can you see what is good in the Karimojong culture that reduces the chance of HIV? Discuss in your Straight Talk Club.