A STATEMENT MADE FOR MAKERERE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS RESIDING IN LIVINGSTONE HALL

BY

SEMPEERA PATRICK (B.CIV II)

COURTESY OF DISHMA CONSULT

Fellow Gentleman of the Livingstone Hall Republic:

I salute you all.

Recognizing your tireless efforts you expend in the face of exams, it is my profound wish that all goes on well for you. It is, of course, never easy at the academic front, but all we have to do is to keep on trying, the very best we can, and until the very end. The principle here is never give up. Understandably, that must have been the rule, otherwise no one of us would have reached where we are now, yet the struggle continues.

Like many holiday seasons we have had in our life time, again, another one is knocking. Hope we all enjoy it and have fun. My prayer, however, is that God guides everyone through our choices and actions so that we meet again next semester alive and healthy.

But first, I congratulate our Muslim brothers upon getting through idd-al-adhuha celebrations. Hope you enjoyed. The meaning of the day was sacrifice, not just about slaughtering animals and eating heavily, but offering oneself for the will of God (Allah).

Following idd-al-adhuha celebrations we have Christmas and New Year. Observing Christmas is, however, not for all Christians. Some do not at all recognize it, while others have different Christmas days because of the dissimilar calendars followed.

But my happy Christmas wishes go to those who observe it. Since we would all have wished to enter New Year arrive against all forces that takeaway life, it is my wish that we enter the New Year in good health ahead of prosperity.

Fellow gentlemen, without kicking around the bush, I wish to state that HIV/AIDS is still a big threat. 6800 people get HIV every day worldwide, while 1200 of them are young people. Statistics in Uganda show 1.1 million Ugandans living HIV -with prevalence at the rate of 6.4% (Karugaba, 1st December 2008, Daily Monitor).

Also shocking, too, is the revelation that everyday there 370 new infections. It is, again, my prayer to we escape this monster HIV/AIDS –which is, actually, not just a threat but a killer.

However, same data source pointed the married, as most infected category by 77% (Karugaba, 1st December 2008, Daily Monitor). While we could say married are in danger, most of us are not very far –since the biz here is cohabiting, as indeed the best term to use.

It is, therefore, my appeal that if we cannot follow Pastor Ssempa’s gospel of abstinence, we could consider 1) taking going with our ladies for blood check-up, 2) use condoms for pregnancy prevention, 3) Marry –whilst considering the true concept of Christian marriage (DISHMA, December 2008).

In the Spirit Republic of Livingstone Hall as best home away from home and, as we build for the future.