The new archbishop of Uganda has become the first primate of the country’s Anglican church to embrace the use of modern contraceptives after urging women to be “very careful” to avoid getting pregnant during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The ninth archbishop of the church of Uganda, Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, said in a televised Sunday sermon he is “really concerned” that many women will get pregnant during the nationwide shutdown. On Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni extended the initial 14-day lockdown for a further three weeks.

“I am really concerned [that] after [this] coronavirus situation we will have many, many women who will be pregnant. Actually we need to be careful. I want to call upon you women don’t forget to use your contraceptives because we don’t want [you] to have unwanted pregnancies,” said Kazimba, who was enthroned as archbishop on 1 March.

“These guys are there; they are eating and doing things [having sex]. Be careful because these men they don’t care. You women [must] be careful.”

Women in Uganda have an average of five children, but just 30% of women use a modern form of contraception.