The Batwa community, residing in villages such as Kagano, Karengyere, Rwamahano, and Rwaburindi, all located in Muko Sub-County of Rubanda district, has raised concerns to the government, stating that they have been excluded from accessing sex education.
This sentiment was expressed during a stakeholder meeting organized by the Local Sustainable Communities Organization, which aimed to address social barriers hindering the achievement and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Rwamahano, in particular, is known for housing a community of vulnerable individuals who once inhabited the forests of Bwindi, Echuya, and Mgahinga in the Kigezi sub-region.
Amos Tugumisirinze, an advocate for the Batwa minority group, asserts that the Batwa have been deprived of access to sex education, attributing this to long distances and feelings of inferiority. He further explains that most health facilities capable of providing sex education are located far from the Batwa homesteads.
Tugumisirinze emphasizes that the Batwa’s ignorance and discrimination have significantly contributed to cases of early pregnancies. He calls on the government to conduct outreach programs, especially targeting Batwa communities, to ensure they receive information about sex education.
Scovia Tumuhise, a nursing officer at Muko Health Center IV, confirms that the Batwa community seldom visits health centers for sex education. She suggests that it is high time health facilities implement special outreach programs for the Batwa communities, as sex education is crucial for preventing early pregnancies.
Albert Taremwa, the executive director of the Local Sustainable Communities Organization, emphasizes the organization’s commitment to working closely with health centers and government structures to reach out to the Batwa. He stresses that sexual reproductive health and rights are essential for all groups of people.
The Batwa, a minority group, are a semi-nomadic pygmy tribe that once inhabited the jungles of Echuya, Bwindi, and Mgahinga forests, living as hunters and gatherers. However, in 1992, the government evicted them from their ancestral lands without providing alternative accommodations.
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