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THIS WEEK: UDPF launches Ulinzi condoms
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda People’s Defense Force-UPDF has unveiled a new brand of condoms as part of its efforts to fight the HIV scourge.
Ulinzi condoms are packed in a digital camouflage pack similar to UPDF uniforms.The condoms, which are produced in Thailand, were unveiled on Dec.01 during the commemoration of the International World AIDS day in Kawempe Division in Kampala. Col.
Ignatius Wamundu Cassette, the Director HIV/Aids in UPDF, says they conducted a study with the help of the Population Services International to come up with a new strategy of fighting HIV/Aids.
He says they resolved to produce Ulinzi condoms after realizing that HIV/Aids have affected several soldiers in the last 30 years. “We resolved to come up with something different from what is available on the market and decided to produce Ulinzi (Swahili word for defense) condoms because it resonates well with soldiers,” he said.
According to Col. Wamundu, the army plans to distribute 7 million condoms this year and next year to the general public. About 170 million condoms are used in Uganda annually, which means the army will be contributing 2 percent of the total condoms required. Sulaiman Kidandala, the former Deputy Lord Mayor Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA has welcomed the gesture by UPDF, saying the army isn’t only providing security to the citizens but has taken broad steps to fight HIV.
Some of the people who received the free condoms distributed by the army said they were eager to test them to discover the feel behind them.
That’s a great move by the defense ministry.