6/22/08

Uganda: Sodomy, the Untold Story in Boarding Schools


The Monitor (Kampala)
 

Email This Page

Print This Page

Comment on this article

Rodney Muhumuza
Kampala

A child counsellor has claimed that sodomy in boarding primary schools is "the untold story". Mr Denis Odoi, of World Vision Uganda, said on Thursday that his interactions with several sodomised children have led him to believe that "boarding primary schools are very, very dangerous".

"I would not advise any parent to take his or her child to boarding primary schools that are single sex," Mr Odoi said on Thursday, reacting to reports that sodomy is thriving in secondary schools.

"I don't have the figures, but what I can say is that there are so many cases that if the actual research is done, the results would be staggering."

According to Mr Odoi, "some primary schools have come to me" to counsel the abused children in their care. Although Mr Odoi said older pupils may have been responsible for sexually assaulting the children he counselled, his stunning revelation did not explain whether the alleged acts of sodomy were actually performed by people other than the older pupils. Mr Odoi declined to mention his clients or the specific cases he has dealt with.

Experts say the health risks involved in sodomy, especially where the victims are pre-teenage children, are immense.

"Physical damage is more common in young people because of the size involved," said Dr Vincent Karuhanga, a private medical practitioner in Kampala.

Relevant Links

"It is easier that way to catch sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV/Aids," he said. "The anal sphincter becomes loose. Once the anal sphincter is damaged, it is irreversible."

Still, according to Dr Karuhanga, who says he has dealt with sodomy cases, "guilt and loss of self esteem" are most prominent traits exhibited by victims. Habit formation takes place during puberty, leaving sodomised children highly likely to become homosexuals for life, experts say.

A child develops a "sexual value system" around the age of 13, when most children are joining secondary school, said Mr Paul Nyende, a Makerere community psychologist. Sodomised children, he said, are likely to "revenge" on the next generation so as to pass on the guilt.






--
Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
Procurement Consultant
Gsm: +250-08470205
Home: +250-55104140
P.O. Box 3867
Kigali-Rwanda
East Africa
Blog: http://www.cepgl.blogspot.com
Skype ID : Kayisa66

No comments:

Post a Comment