NATIONAL HIV & AIDS SYMPOSIUM 🎗️

Presented by Joseph Kizza
(Scroll down the page for updates)
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5:56 pm   |   It is a wrap for today!

It is a wrap for the opening day. We will be back for day two.
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5:55 pm   |   Guest of honour gets groovy

The opening day of the symposium featured a groovy moment that had musician Joanita Kawalya get Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja started on stage. She was joined by US ambassador Natalie Brown and Betty Kwagala, the executive director of  Positive Women with Disabilities in Uganda (POWODU).

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5:40 pm   |   'Behaviour should be changed'

Prof. George Barnabas Kirya served as Makerere University vice-chancellor from April 1986 until November 1990. He has attended the opening day of the symposium at MUBS, and New Vision's Jacky Achan caught up with him.

"In the past, our mothers used to stay at home while our fathers went to work. Now both parents go to work and in many cases don’t have time to talk to their children," says 84-year-old Kirya, who was among the pioneer researchers to discover HIV in Uganda's fishing communities.

"We should try to see and talk to our children about the dangers of HIV and also pregnancy. At the rate we are going, I don’t see us end HIV by 2030. It is a wish, but I don’t see us fulfil this wish.

"There has to be an effort to change the various behaviours which make us spread HIV from one person to another. For example, the way drunkards sometimes they behave is abominable. We need change."

Kirya is the former also a former commissioner in the Health Service Commission and chairman of the Uganda Health Marketing Group.


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4:59 pm   |   'This disease is still here' - MC Kats

Ugandan entertainer Edwin Katamba, better known as MC Kats, is an HIV brand ambassador of the Uganda AIDS Commission. 

He is interviewed at the symposium by New Vision's Jacky Achan. "You may be cool, you may be fly, you may be thinking this disease is for the old in age, but this disease is still here for the youth out there," he says.


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4:25 pm   |   Paying tribute to the late Philly Lutaaya

Meanwhile, it is all art and charity at the Philly Lutaaya tent that is set up at the National HIV and AIDS symposium, reports Lawrence Mulondo.

As one acceses the tent, they are welcomed by different art, ranging from photos of the late Uganda musician, who died of AIDS, banners of films targeting the youth, among other pieces.

Among things one should not miss at the tent are the lyrics of the AIDS anthem that was composed and sang by Lutaaya.

At the same tent is a donation bag for the One Dollar Initiative that was started by the private sector to raise finances to fund the HIV and AIDS work in the country.

Different artists led by Joanita Kawalya are at the tent to take around guests as they explain to them how art is contributing to the fight against HIV and AIDS in Uganda.

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3:49 pm   |   PM Nabbanja inspects exbihitors

After arriving at MUBS for the symposium, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja toured some of the exhibition stalls.

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3:37 pm   |   Prime Minister, the guest of honour arrives

The guest of honour, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, has arrived.
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3:26 pm   |   'Lack of books on HIV & AIDS'

Regina Anyait from Luigi Giussani High School in Kampala is attending the event at MUBS. She tells New Vision's Jacky Achan that the shortage of books educating young people on HIV and AIDS in especially secondary school is a problem.

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2:48 pm   |   Kaleeba calls for sensitization on stigma

Norrine Wanyana Kaleeba, one of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) founders, has called for more sensitisation of the public on HIV-related stigma if the 2030 target is to be realised, reports Lawrence Mulondo.

She said stigma related to HIV and AIDS continues to haunt the country and that it is stopping people from knowing their status and getting medication for those who get to know their status.

"Stigma goes on to affect those with medication, as they fail to take it in some environments where they feel insecure."

Below, she is seen with New Vision veteran journalist Elvis Basudde, who does HIV advocacy by writing and sensitising people about HIV and helping reduce stigma and denial.

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2:21 pm   |   IN PICTURES  📸

Below, Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama, Dr. Nelson Musoba, the director general of UAC, US ambassador to Uganda Natalie Brown and Kampala state minister Kabuye Kyofatogabye at the AIDS Information Centre - Uganda stall.

CEO Wanyama and minister Kyofatogabye.

There is a memorial board for the late Philly Bongoley Lutaaya, with musician Joanita Kawalya (in red) telling the guests more about the celebrated Ugandan musician.

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2:05 pm   |   Family-centred approach 'missing link'

Flavia Kyomukama of Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV & AIDS tells New Vision's Jacky Achan that their main concern is the increasing HIV infection of women generally and that the missing link is a "family-centred approach".


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1:37 pm   |   IN PICTURES  📸

US ambassador to Uganda Natalie Brown and MUBS vice-chancellor Waswa Balunywa try out virtual reality to pass on the HIV and AIDS message, including HIV prevention and how HIV is spread.

Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama interacting with Maj. (Rtd) Rubaramira Ruranga during the symposium.

Ruranga is one of the few Ugandans who has lived a healthy life with HIV longest. He is among the first Ugandan who, just after the late Philly Bongole Lutaaya, went public about his HIV status in 1992. He was also among the first to participate in HIV trials and to be initiated on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

CLICK HEREto read his story.

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12:45 pm   |   IN PICTURES  📸

The day one attendance is good, with students among those who are attending the event.

Dr. Sam Okware, the director general of Uganda National Health Research Organisation (UNHRO).

Okware has served for more than 35 years as a highly-renowned public health professional, epidemiologist, educator and health advocate. He trained at Makerere University, University of Minnesota and the University of Bergen (PhD).

Currently the director general for the Uganda National Health Research Organization, he also represents the institution as commissioner on the Board of the East African Health Research Commission.

Jacqueline Makokha, the UNAIDS country director, has been the co-chair of the morning plenary session.

Vision Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Don Wanyama is attending the symposium.

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11:55 am   |   US ambassador arrives

US ambassador to Uganda Natalie Brown (right) has arrived for the symposium, welcomed by MUBS vice-chancellor Prof. Waswa Balunywa (left).

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11:37 am   |   Joint AIDS Review (JAR) report

Dr. Vincent Bagambe, Uganda AIDS Commission's director of planning and strategic information, has presented the Joint AIDS Review (JAR) report.

As of June 2022, there were 1.4 million people living with HIV in Uganda, according to the report. Of these, 840,000 are male, 500,000 female and 88,000 children.

The report says the HIV prevalence rate as of June 2022 was 5.2% and new infections were 54,000 (31,000 female, 16,000 male and 6,000 children).

AIDS-related deaths were 17,000 (6,300 female, 7,100 male and 4,000 children).

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11:23 am   |   Nostalgic Philly Lutaaya music ♫ ♬

The weather here at MUBS, the venue of the National HIV & AIDS Symposium, is not harsh at all. A perfect day for an outdoors event like this one. Some people attending at ltaking leisurely strolls from one stall to another.

In the distance, from the media area where I am seated, the nostalgic music by the late Philly Bongoley Lutaaya, including Alone, is flowing generously from the Philly Lutaaya Tent, where the entertainers are stationed.
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11:06 am   |   HIV self-testing kit

Human Diagnostics Uganda are here exhibiting the OraQuick HIV self-testing kit. This is a preferred option for many users because of the privacy element it guarantees. Shamim Naggayi and her team are offering free testing services with the kit and also selling if you want to take one with you. Lawrence Mulondo captured her:


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10:50 am  

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) HIV Echo are among the exhibitors at the symposium. On display are a number of products, including HIV and AIDs awareness materials and the famous Ulinzi condoms, reports New Vision's Lawrence Mulondo.

In the video below, Lt. Gilbert Arinaitwe talks about what they are showcasing today:


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10:38 am  

Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha, who became the first religious leader in Africa to publicly announce that he was HIV positive 30 years ago, is attending the symposium.

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10:30 am  

Meanwhile, New Vision's Simon Peter Tumwine has been checking out the exhibition stalls. Hajarah Asiimwe (pictured below on the right), an HIV advocate and the 2018 Miss Y+ first runner-up for western Uganda, is one of the exhibitors at this year's symposium.

She says they use new male and female condoms to create outfits under a campaign  dubbed CONDOMIZE!, with a single outfit selling at sh300,000.

The CONDOMIZE! campaign aims to highlight the effectiveness of condoms - male and female - for HIV prevention and calls on governments, donors and users to intensify access to, and demand for, quality condoms as a primary defence against HIV. 

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10:05 am  

It is entertainment time now, with the Uganda Young Positives Drama Group delivering a skit.

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9:54 am   |   Theme

This year's symposium, which is for the first time ever open to the public, is being held under the theme: Ending inequalities among adolescent girls, young women and boys.

Campaigners will have been pleased that this time around, the boy child is added in the mix.
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9:30 am   |   Afternoon session programme

The afternoon plenary session on epidemiology and HIV prevention will by chaired by Dr. Fred Makumbi, with Lilian Mworeko as the co-chair.

Dr. Eugene Ruzagira is the head of the HIV Epidemiology and Intervention Programme. He will present on HIV prevention trials, basic sciences and epidemiology research.

Dr. Joseph Kagaayi, the executive director of Rakai Health Sciences Programme (RHSP), will talk about HIV prevention and transmission dynamics, drawing lessons from the Rakai chort epidemiology and phylogenetic sequencing data.

Thereafter, Andrew Mujugira, the head of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Kasangati, Makerere University, will talk about the current breakthrough reserach on Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the medicine taken to prevent getting HIV.

What will follow will be discussions on basic science, care and treatment.

Dr. Cissy Kityo, the executive director of Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), will make a presentation on paediatric and adult new therapeutic and cure intervention research.

After her, Dr. Yvonne Karamagi, the director of medical services at Mildmay, will talk about the epxerience from Mildmay on adolescent girls and young women as well as boys.

Discussions will follow, before the health ministry gives an update on Ebola.

UAC's Dr. Vincent Bagambe will wrap up the first day of the symposium.
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9:24 am   |   Morning session programme

Day one will start with a plenary session chaired by Dr. Sam Okware, the director general of Uganda National Health Research Organisation (UNHRO).

Jacqueline Makokha, the UNAIDS country director, will be the co-chair.

Dr. Eddie Mukooyo, the chairman of Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), will deliver the welcome remarks, during which he will also talk about the objectives of the symposium.

Shortly after, Dr. Vincent Bagambe, UAC's director of planning and strategic information, will present the Joint AIDS Review (JAR) report.

The opening session will be chaired and co-chaired by Sarah Netalisire and Kuraish Mubiru. Netalisire is the chairperson of the HIV Committee of Parliament while Mubiru is the executive director of Uganda Young Positives (UYP).

The guest of honour, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, will tour the exhibition, led by Dr. Nelson Musoba, the director general of UAC.

Priscilla Namubiru of Baylor Uganda will deliver a presentation on young people's voices on ending AIDS by 2030.

Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS regional director, will deliver a keynote address on ending inequalities among young people from a regional and international persperctive.

Betty Kwagala, the executive director of  Positive Women with Disabilities in Uganda (POWODU), will make a presentation community perspectives on ending inequalities in the national HIV and AIDS response by 2030.

US ambassador to Uganda, Natalie Brown, will deliver a statement, as will the Minister in charge of the Presidency, Babirye Milly Babalanda. The final act of the morning session will be a speech by the guest of honour and the official opening of the symposium.

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9:10 am   |   Good morning and welcome everyone

Hello and welcome to New Vision's live text coverage of the National HIV & AIDS Symposium that gets under way today (Tuesday, November 8) and will run until Thursday. It is a packed three days of presentations and discussions on matters HIV and AIDS.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja will be the guest of honour.

Stick with us as we bring you as many updates from the symposium as we can. Oh, and don't forget to refresh this page for updates.