Uganda and Kenya are working together to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice prevalent in the two countries.



Uganda's Minister of State for Gender, Lukia Nakadama said unless the two countries worked together, the practice would not be wiped out.



"We are liaising with Kenya to stump out the practice because many of the affected communities lie on the border between the two countries," Nakadama said. 



"Those promoting it can easily cross from one country into another when they realise that they are being hunted."



She said Uganda has waged war against female genital mutilation, which it says contributes to HIV/Aids infections and complications with child birth.



"The practice causes bleeding, infections, trauma, complications during birth and increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases infections including HIV/Aids," she said.



Girls between the ages of 14 and 18 years and mostly in rural areas in the two countries are often subjected to the risky operation.

They are also often given in marriage before the legal age of 18 years.

Medical workers have warned about the spread of HIV/Aids and other diseases during the procedure as a result of the use of unsterilised medical tools by traditional surgeons.

Traditional surgeons usually use the same tools on several girls without sterilising them.



Despite the enactment of a law in Uganda against FGM in 2010, the practice continues. 



The north eastern part of Uganda is particularly affected, with three tribes still practicing female circumcision.



A recent survey revealed that more than 2,000 girls fall prey to the knife of FGM surgeons.



In commemoration of the international zero tolerance to FGM day, Rukia Nakadama promised that the vice will soon be history following intensified efforts by the government to curb the practice.



In a strong warning to practioners, Nakadama said that people caught practicing FGM will face the law and called upon all Ugandans to cooperate in the war against female circumcision.