HIV activists want errant religious leaders convicted
Feb 02, 2011
ACTIVISTS have demanded that the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, 2010 provide for legal action against religious leaders and traditional healers who extort money from the public in the guise of curing AIDS.
By Donald Kiirya
ACTIVISTS have demanded that the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, 2010 provide for legal action against religious leaders and traditional healers who extort money from the public in the guise of curing AIDS.
The concern was raised at a meeting organised by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to review the Bill last Friday in Jinja. Hakim Kanyere, a participant, said most pastors and traditional healers pedal lies to get money from HIV patients, yet they cannot cure the disease. He said the Bill should encourage persons carrying out research on HIV and punish those who get money from the public.
Roselyn Karugonjo Segawa, UHRC’s director of monitoring and inspections, pledged that the issues raised would be included in the Bill. The UHRC chairman Med Kaggwa urged parents to sensitize their children on preventive measures in order to reduce the rate of HIV infection.
ACTIVISTS have demanded that the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, 2010 provide for legal action against religious leaders and traditional healers who extort money from the public in the guise of curing AIDS.
The concern was raised at a meeting organised by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to review the Bill last Friday in Jinja. Hakim Kanyere, a participant, said most pastors and traditional healers pedal lies to get money from HIV patients, yet they cannot cure the disease. He said the Bill should encourage persons carrying out research on HIV and punish those who get money from the public.
Roselyn Karugonjo Segawa, UHRC’s director of monitoring and inspections, pledged that the issues raised would be included in the Bill. The UHRC chairman Med Kaggwa urged parents to sensitize their children on preventive measures in order to reduce the rate of HIV infection.