“I live in Kampala. I have a teaching background and am currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health. I love making things move while having fun. A piece of roast chicken enhances my thinking capacity.”

From the age of 11, I dreamt of working with The AIDS Support Organization (TASO). I always accompanied my mother to the center for support, which she would visit every month. Afterwards she was always rejuvenated and had extra energy to run another month. To me, I felt TASO was so understanding to her plight and supported her emotionally amidst the stigma she experienced from the community. It was then, that I purposed to work with people living with HIV because I knew they needed acceptance and love to fight on. TASO had extended  this to my Mom, and wanted to extend it to someone else’s family member. I didn’t join  TASO, but my dream has still come true at NAFOPHANU.

Wow! Working with The National Forum, that coordinates networks of people living with HIV in Uganda, one cannot miss out on exposure, networking and advocacy skills which I currently pride in. 

In Uganda, poverty makes people vulnerable and ultimately forces our youths – especially girls– to end up with sugar daddies (wealthy older men who lure young girls into sexual relations using their money and gifts). I am positive that economic empowerment can enable them have a source of livelihood to meet their basic needs other than depending on these men for money or gifts and with whom they are unable to negotiate for safe sex.

In the GUSO Flexi project young people are being trained in providing health information and selling over the counter health products. They are not only earning an income, but they are also able to bring services closer to their communities. The Community Health Entrepreneurs is a new model, which is taking a while to get stakeholders’ buy in and appreciation. The challenge lies in ensuring stakeholders appreciate and trust the model.  At community level, I desire for us to counterbalance  the increasing rate of HIV infection  and teenage pregnancies among our youths.  At personal level I hope to become better at designing and managing projects.

GUSO Flexi is implemented by multiple local partners in 4 districts in Uganda. Its aim is to empower young people to realize their sexual and reproductive health and rights. 760 young people are being trained as Community Health Entrepreneurs. As such they are not only earning an income, but they are also able to bring health services and education closer to their communities. 

NAFOPHANU is the national umbrella organization of networks of people living with HIV in Uganda.