Kampala — Visiting MPs from Mozambique have expressed awe at the way Ugandans openly talk about sex, condoms and AIDS, saying in their country, it is taboo for one to openly talk about the subjects.

The MPs who were yesterday interacting with members of the sessional committee on social services said that despite the alarming proportions of AIDS in their country, they are yet to break the silence.

They inquired from their counterparts how the issue of condoms can be taken for discussion in schools.

"In Mozambique, people don't want to hear about condoms. They'd rather hear you tell them about behavioural change," Raquel Carlos Jose Damia said.

The MPs said that Mozambique is today losing a lot people on whom the government spent a lot of money educating, and lauded Uganda's example in openly fighting AIDS that is cited the world over.

"In our country, AIDS has gained alarming proportions on a daily basis. We have several hundred people continually being infected. Doctors, teachers, engineers and many professionals. The mistake we did was that we did not take the initiative and kept on postponing to tomorrow, the other day, and now it is too late," lamented Louis Boavida Mudivela.

They asked whether the Ugandan government has in place a law protecting people with AIDS, and emphasised the role of women and children in combating AIDS.