Like many young people in Kasese, I grew up without the slightest idea of HIV/AIDS. All we heard was that it was a disease for prostitutes. My first encounter with HIV was in 2003 when I lost my own aunt to the scourge. At 19, I had never seen someone with HIV neither had my parents or many people in my village. We blamed witchcraft for my aunt’s death. For she was no prostitute, and only witchcraft could explain the mysterious disease that claimed her life! People in Kasese strongly believe in witchcraft. Well, she died, leaving behind three orphans. Her husband who had four other wives died six months later. A real tragedy it was!

In 2004, I joined a volunteer group that helped government soldiers recover live ammunitions which were left behind by rebels following the end of the ADF war in western Uganda. While there, I met another volunteer who had trained as an HIV/AIDS Counselor. When I shared my aunt’s story, he advised that the likely cause of my aunt’s death could have been AIDS. He then encouraged me to have my late aunt’s children test for HIV. All three tested positive.

The tragedy of the children’s results made it clear to me that many people in the area were dying of HIV/AIDS related illnesses because they were unaware of the disease and available treatment options. I then decided to start an organization sensitizing the local community on HIV/AIDS. Since then, I’ve mobilized over one hundred other volunteers and together, we are bringing HIV/AIDS information closer to the people.

It hasn’t been easy though! There are still a lot of misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in our community. Many people still think that all of us who sensitize people about AIDS are HIV-positive. Preventive measures like the use of condoms are still taboo subjects, and people with HIV are still seen as social outcasts in some quarters. I was personally expelled from the local church (where I was a youth leader) for encouraging the use of condoms. But I chose to stand for what I believe in – that life is precious, and we must do everything within our means to preserve it.

What I have learnt from all this is that every little effort counts. Of the three orphans left by my aunt, only one has died. The two are on ARVs, in school and healthy. My organization, Youth Empowering Initiative (YEI), has registered over two hundred people living with HIV/AIDS who are sensitizing the community through drama and radio programs. We continue to offer free HIV testing in the community and have also been able to put over sixty HIV/AIDS orphans in school. Each month, we involve more than five hundred young people and their parents in discussion on HIV/AIDS. Slowly by slowly, we are making more people aware of the scourge. And yes, each one of us has the potential to make a difference.
So, what are you doing to make an impact in your community?