Buganda premier Mayiga rallies Buvuma fishers to embrace HIV testing, treatment services
“If you take your medicines as required, you will be healthy, and continue with your fishing activities,” he says and cautions the fisher folks from infecting others.
Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayinga addressing residents of Kasaali B landing site. (Photos by Agnes Kyotalengerire)
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Buganda premier (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga has urged Buvuma district-based fishers to test for HIV to know their status, and those found to be already infected to immediately embrace antiretroviral therapy.
“If you take your medicines as required, you will be healthy, and continue with your fishing activities,” he says and cautions the fisher folks from infecting others.
Buvuuma sub-county chief Michael Mbowa Wamala says the residents are shunning HIV testing services because they fear stigmatisation and discrimination.
According to Mbowa, even those who would have loved to go and test for HIV have to move long distances to access health facilities that are located on distant islands.
He urged officials from Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) to sensitise and encourage people to test for HIV, and also try to bring treatment services closer to reduce transport costs. People living with HIV have challenges of trekking long distances to access medicine.
Michael Mbowa Wamala, the Buvuuma sub-county chief showing Katikkiro the recommended fishing nets at Kasaali B landing site in Buvuuma Isand.
Mayiga said the Buganda Kingdom is committed to working with the health ministry and the Uganda AIDS Commission to ensure HIV testing and treatment services are brought closer to communities, so that people living with HIV do not trek long distances to get their ARVs refills.
Drawing an example of fishermen who wear life-saving jackets while fishing, Mayiga also advised fisher folks to protect themselves against the HIV scourge by using condoms, considering that majority engage in sex with commercial sex workers.
He was accompanied by kingdom cabinet ministers, including agriculture minister Hajji Amisi Kakomo, Noah Kiwimba (social affairs) and Cotilda Nakate. Also with Mayiga were UAC commissioner Dr Stephen Watiti and UAC zonal co-ordinator Mary Namuyomba.
Dr Watiti, the renowned HIV activist who has lived with HIV for the last 35 years, said that although Buvuuma has a low HIV prevalence at 4.4 %, the worrying bit is that 77% (7 out of 10) people who are living with HIV on Buvuuma Island are taking their antiretroviral drugs. This means that 33% (3 out of 10) are not on treatment, hence increasing their chances of dying of HIV related illnesses or infecting others.
He said Uganda’s target is to end AIDS by 2030, which means that by 2030, there should be zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.
Mayiga described fishing as a good economic venture and advised fishermen to practice good fishing methods in order to preserve Lake Victoria and continue benefiting.
The HIV burden
In 2024, Uganda recorded 37,000 new HIV infections and 20,000 AIDS-related deaths. By December 2024, an estimated 1.5 million Ugandans were living with HIV.