The MPs however say the method should a matter of choice if one needs to adopt a family planning method in his home.

Pastor Joseph Sserwadda of Victory Christian Church.

Pastor Sserwadda is said to have recently told a congregation that Uganda’s population growth can only be tackled by government making it a policy for men to have a specific number of children and thereafter go for vasectomy.

Ajuri County Member of Parliament in Alebtong district, Benson Obua Hamson, says the method already exists in the country but that it must however be optional for men who want it as family planning method in their families but shouldn’t be made a policy.

“You cannot deny a man the number of children he wishes to have. If it is introduced as a policy, it will be a human rights violation on the part of the man because he will have not consented to it. It is however good to control the population but using other available methods,” Obua says.

Buliisa County MP Hon Stephen Birahwa Mukitale.

Buliisa County MP, Stephen Birrahwa Mukitale, says that though population of the country is exploding, this kind of family planning method can be taken up if there is thorough sensitization in the communities instead of use of force.

He says Ugandans especially the youths should be sensitized at an early age so that they can make informed decisions on how many children they would love to have before they get married.

Experts say as of 1 January 2017, the population of Uganda was estimated to be 40, 953, 469 people. This is an increase of 3.26 % (1 293 318 people) compared to population of 39, 660, 151 the year before. In 2016 the natural increase was positive, as the number of births exceeded the number of deaths by 1 326 235.

In the East African region, Uganda ranks third with Kenya at 44 million people will Tanzania has the highest population of 49 million people.

It is also reported that Uganda has the youngest population in Africa followed by Niger state in West Africa.

Vasectomy male sterilization is a form of contraception that involves surgically cutting or blocking the tube that transports sperm from the testicles to the penis.

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Ambassador Alphons Hennekens receiving an award

The Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda Alphons Hennekens  calls for a concerted effort to make men and boys aware of the need for family planning and support of the use of contraceptives. Ambassador Alphons made the remarks while reacting to media reports that about 70% of women use contraceptives without the consent of their husbands.

He says that men should know that the use of family planning and contraceptives will lower the fertility rate, reduce unsafe abortions and maternal morbidity. He says that if Uganda wants to achieve a middle income status by 2020 and the population growth has to go down.

The Ambassador was also concerned about the reports of faulty x-rays lying at district hospitals, noting that this could be caused by gaps and weakness in accountability management and governance system in government agencies and ministries.

This was at the closure of the three and half year Link up Project, implemented by partners of the International HIV Alliance, and coordinated by Community Health Alliance Uganda (CHAU). The project was aimed at increasing access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV services, commodities and information for young people living with and most affected by HIV in Uganda.

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The speaker demanded for recruitment of more midwives for health units since there is a shortage of medical workers in the country. In addition she requested the ministry of health to always inform members of parliament on the funds sent to health facilities in their constituencies so as there is close supervision.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative to Uganda Miranda Tabifor  while addressing the members of parliament  on family planning issues at Imperial Royale hotel in Kampala urged them to find a solution to the low use of modern contraceptive whereby many women fear side effects and opposition from their partners. Tabifor called on parliament to advocate for additional allocation and expenditure and laws  for implementation of the family planning programmes so as the family planning uptake challenge is addressed.

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The Chairperson of the Network for African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians-Uganda Sylvia Namabidde says that efforts are already under way to have all the monetary pledges by government are put in place.

While speaking at the London Summit on Family Planning in July this year, President Yoweri  Museveni pledged  that his government would  increase budget allocation for Family Planning  supplies from 3.3 million dollar to 5 million US dollar for the next five years.

Namabidde says that as the Uganda marks World Safe motherhood day on the theme Zero tolerance to maternal and newborn deaths, Play your Part, the group is determined to follow up with government in regard to the pledge to reduce maternal mortality rates.

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Marie Stopes promoted contraceptive pills

Adongo says that the family planning prevalence rate varies from urban to rural which gives a national percentage of 24% according to statistics.

Adongo explains that the low prevalence is due to the fact that most women still depend on male decision on whether to use family planning or not adding that the failure to have a variety of family planning methods and enough trained medical personnel has also hindered the success of family planning especially in rural areas.

According to research, most people who use family planning are those in the reproductive stage which is between 15 and 45 years of age.

Adongo observes that the misconceptions about family planning are due to the fact that most people lack good information about the practice.

She however says that family planning methods sometimes have side effects which she says can be corrected if the user goes through the methods of taking family planning.

By By Rogers Sunday

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