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The US Ambassador William Popp has revealed that the US government through PEPFAR is shaping new ways to provide HIV services for ending HIV and AIDS in Uganda as a public health threat, a goal they remain a committed partner in achieving.

He said that Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world and applauded young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) for stepping out to be change agents and champions in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

“Youth leadership is key in offering hope in fighting the pandemic. Thank you, UNYPA, for your collective voice that has encouraged young people living with HIV to thrive and become involved in advocating for their own treatment and care,” Popp said.

Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV/AIDS (UNYPA) ED Ruth Awori talking to audience. (Courtesy photo)

Adding, “We also laud Uganda for being one of only few countries in the world that has managed to reverse the HIV epidemic. Many countries have borrowed a leaf out of Uganda’s success story. The US government is committed to working with the Ugandan people to build a more prosperous, healthy, and peaceful nation. Working together, I have no doubt we shall transform the lives of those living with HIV for the better.”

He was delivering closing remarks on Wednesday at Hotel African during the launch of the 8^th annual Y+ (Young Positives) Summit 2024, organized by the Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV/AIDS (UNYPA), a youth-led organization for young people living with HIV countrywide.

The two-day summit attracted 160 young people living with HIV aged between 12 and 24 from 17 districts on top of delegates from the line ministries, private sectors, NGOs, AIDS Development partners, service providers, advocates and HIV/SRHR champions, CSOs and policymakers who shared tips on ending HIV by 2030.

The ambassador said that US has invested billions of dollars for the last 20 years through PEPFAR and more than 95% of the HIV-positive Ugandans are receiving ARVs and other support, and investment which he said they are committed to.

“Despite our remarkable progress, however, we cannot relax. We still have a long way to go.  As partners, we must strengthen community involvement to accelerate our efforts to end HIV/AIDS soon,” he said

Popp remarked that improving outcomes require better preparation for life and medication transitions, youth-friendly services, peer support, and mental health assistance for trauma and to address unique vulnerability.

The social and legal environment, including policies, laws, and regulations, also impacts HIV outcomes. The criminalization of key populations, such as through the Anti-Homosexuality Act, increases stigma, discrimination, and barriers to achieving the 95-95-95 goals.  We need to come together to support all members of our community with equitable health services to reach our goals.

He said that UNYPA has successfully shifted public perception of HIV by emphasizing personal stories over statistics, empowering young individuals to speak out against stigma, and fostering a supportive environment. “The US Government commends UNYPA and looks forward to continuing to strengthen our partnerships with youth-led organizations,” he said.

I vow to ‘‘die” with HIV discriminators-Balaam

While delivering a keynote address on day one, the state minister for youth and children affairs, Dr Balaam Barugahara, lashed out at people who are in the habit of stigmatizing HIV-positive people, saying the tendency dehumanizes the humanity of the person.

The state minister for youth and children affairs, Dr. Balaam Barugahara delivering a speech at the Y+ summit. (Courtesy photo)

“If you find anybody discriminating against you, do not hesitate to let me know I will “die” with him. People living with HIV should not be subjected to stigmatization, they are human beings like anybody else,” Barugahara said.

He also hailed UNYPA, which is as youth-led organization for young people living with HIV countrywide saying, they are doing a commendable job. 

Barugahara also urged the young people to start holding decision makers accountable in order to avail positive changes towards policies that protect and empower them.

He stressed the importance of addressing the barriers that prevent young people from accessing sexual reproductive health services (SRHS) which include stigma, discrimination and lack of access to sex education.

“We must empower the young people to take charge of their health, well-being and support them to take the lead in their communities in issues relating to HIV,” he said.

The state minister for youth and children affairs, Dr. Balaam Barugahara posing with the young people living with HIV. (Courtesy photo)

The UNYPA ED, Ruth Awori said that her organisation empowers young people living with HIV aged 15-24 with national programs and advocacy including universal access to HIV prevention, provision of SRHR information, treatment, care, and support; fighting stigma and discrimination against all young people living with HIV, and, promoting the greater involvement of all young people living with HIV in the national HIV response

She said currently they have 14 registered networks across the country and they also run a Y+ Beauty Pageant through which they fight stigma and discrimination. She said that the concluded Y+ Summit 2024 was a milestone in the life of young people living with HIV towards stigma reduction, capacity building and individual impact.

“They dialogued with each other and shared their experiences and leant from each other. But most importantly, the summit was a platform that gave an authentic voice and space for YPLWHI across the country to gain skills in advocacy and leadership,” she said.

This summit was organised under the theme "Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps," focusing on celebrating the successes achieved in prevention, treatment, and support while acknowledging the persistent challenges that demand continued dedication and collaboration.

Uganda has a population of over 44 million people including 1.4 million people living with HIV, with 1.2 million people on ART. Due to the excellent progress that has been made towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 2025 target, 81% of the population are aware of their HIV status, 96% of them on ART, of which 92% are virally suppressed.

Young people living with HIV entertaining revellers. (Courtesy photo)

Awori said that since its inception in 2017, the Y+ summit has brough together over 3,705 young people with several activities that help them gain skills, information and knowledge on how to overcome the barriers that limit them from enjoying healthy lives.

Dr Francis Mikiibi from The United Nations Population Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) hailed the young people for their resilience saying that the best people to fight HIV are those who have HIV.

He advised the young people to participate in development activities, keep themselves and people around them healthy and productive. He advised them to advocate for an enabling environment for themselves and for their fellow young people that are unable to get an opportunity to interface with different stake holders.

Dorothy Namutamba, the deputy executive director of the International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) said that they want to see adolescent girls, young women living with HIV and women living HIV living a dignified life. She said that as an organization for women with HIV, their main task is HIV prevention because we do not want to see anyone getting infected with HIV.

The state minister for youth and children affairs, Dr. Balaam Barugahara posing with the young people living with HIV. (Courtesy photo)

Nammutamba hailed Uganda for offering an enabling environment to which has enabled them to fight HIV and AIDS successfully. She also commended UNYPA for mobilising young people living with HIV and empowering them, and she also thanked the United States Government for supporting the government of Uganda in the fight against HIV/AIDS since the early 1980s.

“The United States government has boosted HIV prevention and treatment assistance to Uganda, especially through PEPFAR, and many other HIV infections. We sincerely thank the US for that,” she said.