Uganda Bursting with Condoms

BBC recently reported that despite world wide concern over the dwindling condom supply in Uganda, they're actually doing quite well.

Government officials smashed the rumor saying, "that there is a condom shortage in the country is just a rumour by people who want to spoil the image of this country."

Maybe this is the future of African politics, but saying a country is or isn't running out of condoms doesn't do much to diminish their image in my western mind. Granted the AIDS epidemic isn't nearly as bad here, but when we make fun of another country, say France, we cite their arrogance, their poor military history, their obsession with defending their language against the denizens of google and 'the internet.' We call them weenies or weaklings, useless, effeminite, or annoying. Rarely if ever to we list a diminished supply of contraceptive products amongst their failings, even if it might be true.

In another interesting story, BBC reports that Uganda is starting a special scholarship fund to help send virgin women to college. The girls will have to pass a medical virginity test, which I suppose explains why men can't receive the scholarship.

What really might be hurting the country's image is that while the government claims HIV rates have fallen from 15% to 5%, an independent non-government organization found rates to be as high as 30% in some places, and another independent but highly respected organization admits it's really more like 17%.

So the conclusion is that Uganda is either doing pretty good, not so good, or pretty bad, but at least they won't be running out of condoms.