Kabuye takes action after his siblings’ death

To commemorate the World AIDS Day on December 1, The New Vision, in conjunction with the parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDS, will award individuals who have played a remarkable role in the fight against HIV in their communities. Profiles of the people nominated by the public will be published everyday until the end of November.

By Joel Ogwang

THE death of his brother Ssebatta and sister Nakakande, to HIV/AIDS shattered him, but it also ignited in Shaban Kabuye the power to fight the scourge.

“I was only 15 years old when Nakakande died. That is when I realised how brutal HIV was. She died in pain,” Kabuye narrates. A few years later, his brother, Ssbatta succumbed to the same fate.

“They both did not receive any counselling and no treatment. It was a slow and painfull death. The family watched helplessly as their health detoriated, lost strength and weight and eventually died.”

After witnessing the two tragedies, Kabuye was convienced HIV/AIDS was real and a threat, especially to his community, Kiyindi.

It is a fish-landing site in Buikwe where the youth spend their hard-earned money on booze and sex. “They spend a lot of time on the waters, but while they set out without the virus, they returned with it,” he says. “And, even when they returned, they went on with their reckless sexual behaviour and spread the virus.”

More regrettable is the fact that safe sex is not practised by many in this community. “Because of the risks they encounter in the course of their duties, fishermen are hardened people and to many the virus is not a threat.”

This explains the high HIV prevalence among the fishing communities. “I witnessed my brother die painfully and I was not ready to see any more of my people endure such pain.”
It was on this pretext that in 2007, Kabuye founded the Uganda Youth at Risk Development Network (UYDNET), in his village, Kizigo in Najjembe sub-county in Buikwe.

“Most anti-HIV organisations are based in Kampala. Many youth in my village do not access HIV sensitisation and counselling services. This is the reason I started UYDNET, with the aim of responding to the needs of the youth at risk of HIV/AIDS, STDs and other health hazards,” Kabuye says.
Buikwe West MP, Norman Muwulize, hails Kabuye for his vision. He spreads awareness of HIV/AIDS through the media, community outreach and personal interaction.

UYDNET runs programmes ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention, immunisation, vocational skills, environmental protection and adolescent reproductive health.

Herbert Ziraba, a youth in the area says Kabuye has helped many young people to make responsible decisions. “He encourages them to abstain, be faithful or use condoms and to test regularly,” he says.
The organisation started with seven members and now boasts of over 300 members.

“I established this initiative in my community with sh150,000. When the community realised my goal, I was given an office. This is still UYDNET’s home.”
In 2008, Mukono district registered the institution as a community-based organisation. Aware of the impact of creating awareness through drama, the organisation embraced it to reach out to educate the community and especially the youth.

However, whilst their goal is to curtail the spread of HIV and other STDs, the programmes of the organisation are poorly funded.

In a bid to solve their financial constrains, members started a bee-keeping project. “We bought six beehives. These, however, are not enough. We need many more to be able to raise enough money to sustain the project,” Kabuye says.

UYDNET is also widening its scope to promote food security in this largely fishing community. “Many youth are fishermen, but they do not only feed on fish,” he says. “They also need other foodstuff. We want to reach many youth and encourage them to use the money they earn from fishing to boost their farming activities.”

Kabuye was born to the late Juma Kasule and Masitula Kasule at Nyenga Hospital in 1986. He was a pupil of Kikube Primary School. He then joined Kanjuki SSS, Trinity College, Nakibizzi and Mother Kevin SSS.

He enrolled for a certificate in Counselling and Guidance at Makerere Institute for Social Development in 2006, before doing a diploma in the same discipline. He now works as a voluntary ounsellor with Reproductive Health Uganda.

He is also an anti-HIV/AIDS volunteer at Kawempe Youth Development Association. According to him, there is inadequate information about HIV among the rural population. “We are glad UYDNET is behind this project in Najjembe,” says Muwulize.

He adds that the organisation is in negotiations with Kawolo Hospital to be helped to expand its scope into immunisation. Kabuye lamented that because of inadequate information, many people in rural areas still think HIV is caused by witchcraft.

“They end up seeking help in shrines where they are taken advantage of. The Government and all stakeholders should ensure that people have adequate and up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS. Only then will we win the HIV war,” he says.

FACT FILE

Name: Shaban Kabuye

Location: Buikwe, Mukono district.

Contribution:
-Founded the Uganda Youth at Risk Development Network in Najjembe Subcounty
-UYDNET programmes include HIV sensitization and counselling, immunisation, vocational training, environmental protection and adolescent reproductive health

Volunteer counsellor with Reproductive Health Uganda.