KATIKKIRO | MAYIGA | HIV/AIDS

KALANGALA - The Prime Minister of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has led a team of kingdom ministers to Kalangala to sensitise masses on HIV/AIDs. 

During the visit, Mayiga said, his team will also tour Ssese islands. 

“I went to Kalangala this morning (Monday) to step up efforts to fight the spread of AIDS in the islands. I will spend several days there visiting the various islands that make up the province of Ssese,” Mayiga said. 

Mayiga’s Kalangala tour comes a day after the kingdom’s Kabaka birthday run event on Sunday, which attracted over 80,000 people. 

The Kabaka birthday run was organised under the theme, ‘Men Against Aids to Dave the Girl Child.” 

The executive director of the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDs (UNAIDS), Winnie Byanyima, said the Kabaka birthday run, greatly contributed to HIV/AIDs awareness within the country. 

“Men and boys are less likely to get tested for HIV, meaning men are more likely to die of AIDS-related illnesses. The Kabaka birthday run has contributed to a steep decline in new HIV infections over the last five years, with Buganda region making the fastest progress in reducing new infections,” Byanyima said on Sudnday before the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, flagged off the marathon. 

At the same event, Mayiga said: “The Kabaka wants a healthy population that can develop and grow coffee. With early and effective treatment, people living with HIV can lead lives not different from others.”