Kampala — THE National Drug Authority (nda) has approved a new brand of condoms to be sold on the local market. Preventor condoms are imported from Belgium and are scented with fruity flavours and often have the rubber ribbed, twisted or dotted.

They are now available at most pharmacies, supermarkets and Shell Select stores in Kampala at sh4,000 for a pack of three.

An approval letter signed by Apollo Muhairwe, the executive director of the NDA stated that Preventor male latex condoms had passed laboratory tests done as per ISO 4074 and WHO 2003 specifications.

These tests certify that a brand is an almost 100% protection against pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other STDs. Other brands that have passed similar tests include Protector, Life Guard, and Rough Rider. Ugandans consume about 9 million condoms per month.

"We noticed that there are many people who dislike the smell of the lubricant on most of the condoms on the market. They just put up with them because there was no choice back then.

So we brought in Preventor condoms to change the situation," says Allen Nantaba, the representative of the Brussels-based Remed-Pharma in Uganda.