Sheikh Obilan Abubakar Umar, the Regional Assistant Mufti (RAM) for Teso–Karamoja Region, has issued a strong warning about the alarming HIV situation in Soroti City. He emphasized that the city’s HIV prevalence has reached 12.5%, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 5.1%. The RAM made these remarks on Saturday while speaking to parents during the Annual General Meeting at Soroti Secondary School.

Citing data from the Uganda AIDS Commission (2024), Sheikh Obilan noted that Soroti City is currently ranked second among the most affected urban centers, following Fort Portal, where prevalence stands at 13.5%. He further disclosed that Soroti has 120 identified “hot spots” linked to commercial sex activities. According to him, some of these areas involve secondary schoolgirls engaging in sex work for as little as 1,000 to 2,000 shillings, which he described as “very detrimental to our culture, religion, Teso sub-region, and Uganda at large.”

The RAM condemned the conduct of parents who arrange early marriages for their underage daughters, saying such actions rob them of educational opportunities. “I have been reliably informed that there is a Muslim parent of a senior two student who wants to marry her off, and is actively looking for a man to marry her. Such parents should be reported immediately to the authorities, and the law should be applied to them,” he warned.

He called on communities to remain alert to the exploitation of young girls, whether through forced marriage or commercial sex. Sheikh Obilan criticized parents who treat their daughters primarily as sources of income and send them to school without meeting their essential needs. He said such neglect erodes the cultural and spiritual foundations meant to guide young people.

According to the RAM, ignoring the emotional and psychological needs of children can trigger trauma, stress, and lasting instability. “Uganda is doomed if we have future parents who grow up without mentorship,” he said, describing this pattern as “parental absenteeism.”

In addition to HIV, Sheikh Obilan highlighted other major health concerns affecting the Teso sub-region. He pointed out the rising burden of cervical cancer and sickle cell disease, noting that Teso now ranks just behind Lango in terms of sickle cell prevalence. “The disease is growing rapidly in Teso. We need to fight the trend fraternally,” he advised.

To curb this increase, he explained that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council regional office is spearheading initiatives that include widespread testing, counseling, and the promotion of pre-marital screening. Sheikh Obilan urged parents to undergo testing and recommended screening for all schoolgirls to determine their carrier status. He also revealed that plans are underway to establish a sickle cell clinic in Soroti City in the near future.