Renewed condom awareness and escalating levels of poverty have been cited as the main causes of a booming condom trade in the country, even as less people can afford a previous must-have like the bible.

A mini-survey done by The Monitor confirmed that bible sales have plummeted the last three years, while condoms are having opposite trends.

Ezra Ndagije, the Marketing/Programme Manager of Bible Society of Uganda, said Jan 29, few people are willing to part with Shs 11,000 for the Luganda version compared to the Shs 3,500 the book cost just three years ago.

"The Good News bible for students goes for Shs 8,000 and the other bigger ones cost Shs 27,000 each," Ndagije said.

Over the last three financial years, the society has experienced a drop from 69,500 copies per year to just 50,000 last financial year.

In the condom business however, things could not be moving any better at the moment. Both companies in social marketing said they have realised big increases in sales the last few years.

Marie Stopes International (MSI) Marketing Manager Charles Goria, said the company that markets Life Guard condoms, had recorded a 15% increment in distribution and despite last year when there was no stock, demand for the condom has been high. Last Christmas' batch of 5 million condoms had the company order for more when consumers bought 1.5 million pieces on the first day.

Steven Shalita, the Public Relations Manager of Commercial Market Strategies (CMS), marketers of the Protector brand, said the company's sales were also galloping. From the 300,000 pieces of Protector sold when it had just hit the market in 1991, the company now sells over 10 million pices per year.

However, all dealers were swift to dismiss critics' belief that this is an indicator of immorality in the country.

"The moral issue has not affected the sales. It is mainly the FM radio stations like Impact, Power, Top and the rest. They read the bible on air and some people find it easier and cheaper," Ndagije said, adding that the mode of worship had also changed in many churches, leaving less time to bible reading.

Shalita said the increase in demend for the condoms in no way reflected immorality in the public, but said Ugandans had undergone a lot of sensitization on purchase and use of condoms and they are affordable.

"People are so poor that sex is the only entertainment they can afford. For Shs 5000, they can have sex, but it is not enough to watch a movie," Shalita said.

Analysts have attributed Uganda's current condom boom to years of HIV/AIDS sensitization, with positive results. The prevalence rate has dropped from over thirty percent a few years ago to 6.3% due to behavioral change and condom use.

However, the Bible Society is worried about the current trend in business due to poverty and high levels of illiteracy. Ndagije says it cannot be because people are using the money to buy more condoms, since condoms are too cheap.