UGANDA: SOUTH TO SOUTH INTERNATIONAL SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS CONFERENCE TO EMPOWER RESEARCH IN MEDICINE FOR GULU AND LIRA UNIVERSITIES

The International Sexual Reproductive Health Rights three conference under Gulu and Lira Universities theme improving the quality of sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ICRHR) through training, research and evidence based Clinical Care Delivery in Sub –Saharan African still face challenges as Mulago National Referral and Regional Referral Health Sectors are not able to handle mothers of Disabled Persons as sign language experts dwindles, the Uganda Health Sector do not have specialized

GULU CITY-WED. SEPTEMBER 17, 2025

Okumu Livingstone Langol (Our Correspondent)

As the International Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Three-day Conference for Gulu and Lira Universities open, Journalists affiliated under the media umbrella groups of   Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) power scorn. Says the COVID-19 have exposed gaps in the world Health Sector, as tenth thousands girl-child got pregnant, where were sexual Health rights?

Second question asked, if possible, for International Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, is the conference will be tackling African Indigenous Knowledge in regard to Sexual Reproductive Health Traditional Birth Attendance (TBA) handled by African Women which would control bleeding, and operate complicated delivery. Those TBA mothers had even used surgery, what is the takes and fate of the Western Medicine verse views.

Dr. Pebalo, in his open statement observed the lab has significantly improved the quality of care, from contraception uptake to post-abortion care.

“We now see more people accessing family planning services and post-abortion care. The way providers handle complications has greatly improved, and this is saving mothers’ lives. In this 21st century, it is it is not good for us to lose a mother,

However, he disclosed that he is a beneficiary of the Traditional Knowledge, says his mother single handed delivery him alone from Palabek Gam village about 150 kilometers North of Gulu City, supported the role African Traditional Birth Attendant played, wonder if his mother could give birth to Western Medical Doctor like him.

“My mother delivered me alone when her time to give birth clocked, there was no other person at home, and she delivered a bunch of healthy babies alone.” Dr. Pebalo stressed.

Dr. Pebalo says the International Sexual Reproductive Health Rights give priority to Sexual Reproductive Health issues, we are focusing on the ICRHT. Women as African mothers deep down they know indigenous knowledge is good to know which one is good. It requires a lot because in the 1980’s, WHO came out with the Program Safe Motherhood to train Traditional Birth Attendants. In order to reduce TBA, we have to promote skills training. Because the challenges TBA have the disadvantages expectant mother during the delivery, the much bleeding occurred

While admitting that the COVID-19 exposed gaps in WHO sector service globally as Tenth Thousand young girls got pregnant massively in Africa, they allow contraceptives to be for children.

In Uganda the contraceptives among the girl child, the Bill was taken to Parliament, in the 10^th Parliament, but the Bill did not go anywhere. Because Uganda Legislatives did not care.

“Yes, the question of the contraceptive our young girls need. But the best contraceptives are for girls not having sex. What we fear are the hormones in the contraceptives, because hormone women produce, not only young girls, even boys go for young girls, even we adults go for the young girls.” Dr. Pebalo reiterated.

The question is a win-win situation, in year 2020 we talk about the contraceptive, in 2025, we have lost 9 girls because in Acholi Sub Region because of abortion.

“We buried our heads when it came to contraceptives and the problem teenagers fear becoming pregnant, do we give them enough information they have to avoid early pregnancy, the problem is that we have failed them in our home. The age brackets for the pregnancy among the teenagers is from the 13-14 years, if they get early sexual intercourse, they will conceive.

However, Dr. Pebalo Francis, Lecturer at Gulu University and Principal Investigator at the University’s SRHR Resource Centre, says the three-day conference, convened in partnership with the Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT), has attracted researchers, educators, health practitioners, and policymakers who are sharing evidence-based practices, innovative training models, and locally generated research aimed at transforming women’s health outcomes.

Outline that the conference is being held on the theme “Improving the Quality of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Through Pre-Service   Training, Research, and Evidence -based Clinical Delivery in Sub -Saharan Africa”

Dr. Pebalo described the event as both a milestone and a testament to the strides universities in northern Uganda have made in advancing reproductive health.

“This conference is a showcase of the progress we have made through partnerships,” Dr. Pebalo said. “Since 2020, Gulu University, working closely with Lira University, has collaborated with CIRHT to strengthen pre-service training, improve clinical service provision, and build capacity in reproductive health. This partnership has transformed our institutions and affiliated hospitals.”

Delegates early in the day toured Gulu University’s simulation laboratory, a facility credited with training dozens of health providers and medical doctors. According to Dr. Pebalo, the lab has significantly improved the quality of care, from contraception uptake to post-abortion care.

Research fellow Dr. Yolanda Smith, Research Director at CIRHT and a faculty member at the University of Michigan, reiterates the importance of local research in addressing reproductive health challenges.

“Local research is important for developing the evidence that’s needed to determine the best practices in clinical care, the best programs, the best policies to advance women’s health in your community, in your country, and so this is what CIHRT supports,” Dr. Smith said.

Dr. Yolanda informed the media that both Gulu and Lira Universities have benefited from competitive seed research grants. “Between the University of Lira and the University of Gulu, there were about 46 or 48 seed grants that were given out, all completed, and we are going to be hearing a lot about the successes of that research,” she said.

Teenagers joint prostitutions sex acuter in Gulu City, don’t fear HIV             

Gulu City thriving in teenage sexual prostitution, our Correspondent descended on streets of Gulu City, as early as 8:30PM, East African time on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. As International Sexual Reproductive Health Rights take shape at the heart of Acholi Inn Hotel.

As I walk past Stanbic Bank Limited roundabout, just a kilometer from Uganda General Post Office, South on Gulu-Kampala highway, from left to right swamps of sex workers have taken their position dressed to kill the night half to G-string, standing I am looking for a potential buyer.

Along Acholi Road to the east of Gulu Round about, there groups of teenager’s sexual prostitution very beautiful black skinny ladies waiting for men. When I approached Adong, Marry was not her real name. I ask why she decided to market herself. Her answer was poverty, poverty, poverty.   I have no answer to give, since I am on fact finding.

I decided to move, just less than 100 meters. I came across cooperatives, those well to do women, comprising housewives, workers in CSO and Banker. For them their past word, after Five, their mission they sell their body for many since and sexual pleasure.

Muzee Odong Mwaka 96 years old lives on Coronation road just nearby. When I explore the reason behind a well to do lady, who descended in sexual drive, and yet Acholi Sub Region is home able men.

Muzee dong Mwaka, former Agricultural officer, a traditional leader of Puranga Bobi, laughs off. And told me regions have destroyed our men, women who run on the streets want extra sex because their men do not erect.

“In Acholi traditions, once a man failed to satisfy his wife, he report to the parents, his father will take him to Abila shrine where (Gweno Latwol) literary a cock would motions on his head three times, while standing before Abila, upon that he will walk straight to the hurt, when he reach the door he will open the door and close behind him, that was all. Impotent has gone through a wild wind.

In Gulu City alone, we have sex pub, Opit Buganda Pub is one of them where Emasolo Adam suits.

“If you want live sex on stage you can have your share, or for a short time, sex goes for UGX 10k or 100k on demand.”

We have such sex Pubs, the likes of Plan B, past word, BJS, Masakos. So Gulu is home, a city of sexual pleasure.

Okoya, the Local Council II of Pece Vanguard in Gulu City two year ago, codified with our Correspondent that there are 1500 registered sexual workers in Gulu City that operate lucrative sex businesses.

“As Chairperson Local Government Council II, I oversee sexual workers in my area and we regulate them to avoid mistreatment. And we make sure that they go for a medical checkup.” Alex Okoya observed.

The International Sexual Reproductive Health Rights,the University Gulu and Lira open their door for a better research and medical skills training. The issues of mothers with impaired ears that needed sign language interpreter, Chowoo Willy ask the Executive Director on International Sexual Reproductive Rights ICRHT what would be remedy for Gulu Regional Referral mother of Disability?

Dr. Tamrat Endale from South African Country who heads ICRHT Sub Saharan African says the Health Sector is still battling with Persons with Disabilities, especially mothers who seek Gynecology services. We have mothers including girls who are not able to speak. But they have to do things in the way they can, otherwise the health sectors still battle with them.

Dr. Tamrat Gulu and Lira Universities computed with some African Countries the likes Ghana and others African Countries, But the East African Countries wons, and we are now in Northern Uganda a beautiful country.

Add on, in 2020 we have the ideas of training on Sexual Health and Clinical Care Delivery, the ideas have been to improve a lot of things, only at the moment treatment that has not been coming from the International body like the WHO is now coming to assist researchers’ Programs to share a lot of knowledges from 22 Countries South of Saharan Africa and beyond they have been grappling with.

Dr. Tamrat acknowledges that change happened finally planning in which post abortion mothers are coming for treatment of Sexual Representing CIRHT, Managing Director Dr. Tamrat Endale emphasized that the Center’s mission is rooted in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity across Africa. He acknowledged both Gulu and Lira Universities for demonstrating readiness to host the conference and for their leadership in reproductive health training.

“Our ultimate goal is reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in our region.,” Dr. Endale told journalists. “We focus on curriculum reform, clinical service improvement, and research support. In Uganda, our partnerships with Gulu and Lira Universities have shown that change is possible.”

He added that Uganda has made significant progress in reducing child mortality over the last decade, attributing some of this success to collaborations between academic institutions and the Ministry of Health.

Reproductive Health Care Rights says University of Michigan in the USA is part of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Care in Research Programs and Training researchers.

Dr. Solomon one of Director Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Care says the Three days global Conference which is taking place at Acholi Inn, Gulu City we expect participants should be alert to handle ICRHT. The conference for Franco Phone and Angelic Phone Countries Global South-South.