Stigmatised by his teacher, Ssenyonyi saw the need to help HIV students
Oct 25, 2009
FOR the first two years in his secondary school, Zephaniah Ssensuwa (not real name,) 17, used to sit alone in the corner of his classroom, lost in thought. Everyday, Moses Musazi Ssenyonyi, his teacher at Trinity High School in Kawempe division, wondered
By John Kasozi
Name: Moses Musazi Ssenyonyi
Age: 23
Education: University
Location: Kawempe Industrial Area
Project: Youth Crack HIV/AIDS
Impact: Has reached out to 107 people, including students, school dropouts and the elderly
Contact: +256774213151
FOR the first two years in his secondary school, Zephaniah Ssensuwa (not real name,) 17, used to sit alone in the corner of his classroom, lost in thought. Everyday, Moses Musazi Ssenyonyi, his teacher at Trinity High School in Kawempe division, wondered what was wrong with the boy.
“Sometimes he would burst out crying. Outside the classroom, he did not interact with anyone,†says Ssenyonyi.
One day, Ssenyonyi decided to talk to him. “He opened up and told me he was HIV-positive.
I counselled him and encouraged him to share his problems with others to reduce the stress,†Ssenyonyi says.
Today, Ssensuwa, who is on antiretroviral therapy, is a happy boy and loves school.
Lynda Nabisere (not real name), 17, is another student that Ssenyonyi helped have a new lease on life.
Her parents died of HIV and little did she know that she had been born with the disease.
Nabisere, who is on ARVs, says she has undergone a lot HIV/AIDS training under Ssenyonyi.
“Without Master Ssenyonyi, I would not have a future. I share what I learn with my schoolmates and the community,†she says.
Ssenyonyi’s direct beneficiaries total 107 (49 females and 58 males), all HIV-positive. They include students, school-drop outs and the elderly. There are also many others who have benefited indirectly.
In July this year, Ssenyonyi started the Youth Crack HIV/AIDS programme after attending the Africa Youth summit in Cape Town, South Africa organised by the Global Changemakers and the British Council in May this year.
At the end of the summit, every participant was assigned a project to implement back home to change people’s lives. That is when he came up with the Youth Crack HIV/AIDS project.
“It is a school programme aiming at reducing discrimination of young people living with HIV/AIDs in schools,†Ssenyonyi explains.
The programme is being implemented by YES-Uganda with the help of the British Council and the Global Changemakers’ team. It is also supported by the Government, civil society and well wishers.
So far, the programme has been rolled out in Kampala, Wakiso and Luweero districts.
“Participants share and learn sexual reproductive issues and how best they can fight HIV/AIDS,†he says.
The youth have also been trained to become trainers. They design and implement HIV/AIDS training plans in their communities.
According to Ssenyonyi, the project will be rolled out in two phases. “The first one started on July 1 this year and is expected to end in December.
The second phase will run from January 2010 to April 15, the same year. After that, participants will assess its performance and determine the way forward.
What was his inspiration?
He says it was his experience when he was in Primary Five at Kyamukonda Primary School in Luweero district in 1997.
One day, his religious education teacher, Annah Abigali, told the pupils during a lesson: “Ssenyonyi and his aunt’s death certificates have been signed by God.â€
At that time Ssenyonyi was looking after her paternal aunt, Mbazira, who was suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Seated in the middle row, Ssenyonyi felt infuriated and began sweating. He wondered what to tell his classmates who threw glances at him.
After the lesson, word spread like a bushfire and the whole school got wind of it.
Ssenyonyi kept away from school for some time, but the school authorities did not bother to find out why. “From then on, my life took on a different twist. I lived a lonely life with few friends.
“It was the first time I saw someone suffering from HIV/AIDS. My aunt died in 1994,†Ssenyonyi recalls.
Born in 1986 to Frederick Zziwa and Deborah Nankya of Migyera village, Nabiswera sub-county, Nakasongola district, Ssenyonyi is the fourth-born in a family of nine.
His parents were poor and could not afford to pay school fees for all of them. During his primary and secondary, he did odd jobs to raise school fees.
After completing primary school, Ssenyonyi was admitted to St. Andrews Kaggwa Secondary in Kasaala, Luweero district, where he did his O and A’ level.
Turning point
In Senior Three, one of Ssenyonyi’s close friends, Frank Kijjambu, lost his parents to HIV/AIDS. The same year, Ssenyonyi started having persistent fevers.
“Later, I developed a rash all over my body and sores in my mouth. Together with Kijjambu, we were advised to take an HIV test.
“When the results came out, I was HIV-positive and Kijjambu negative. This was a very big blow to my life. I was a virgin and I am still one today.
“From that day, I kept to myself and cried most of the time,’ Ssenyonyi recalls.
In 2006, Ssenyonyi joined Makerere University for a bachelors degree in education and has just completed his course.
Ssenyonyi took a second HIV test at Kasaala, Luweero in 2007 and the results were still positive. However, this year, he took a third test at Mengo Secondary School, which came out negative.
For all this time, Ssenyonyi has never taken ARVS. Ssenyonyi says his first close contact with a girl was in Senior Six. “She wooed me, but I didn’t give in. Unfortunately, she died of AIDS in 2007.â€
To this day, Ssenyonyi has never understood how he acquired HIV. “Everyday, I ask myself a million questions on how I got HIV, but I can’t trace the avenue. Was it at a dentists’?
I have had my teeth removed twice; in 1994, when I was in Primary Six and and in 2005 when in Senior Four,†he says.
Ssenyonyi says he does not believe he got HIV from his parents since all his siblings are negative. “Could I have got it while caring for my late aunt?†he wonders.
Do you know anyone who has played an important role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in their communities? Nominate the person, indicating name, phone contact and what the person has done in his/her community to help people PREVENT HIV infection. Also give your name and phone number. Write to: The Features Editor, The New Vision, P.O Box 9815, Kampala. or email: feature@newvision.co.ug
Name: Moses Musazi Ssenyonyi
Age: 23
Education: University
Location: Kawempe Industrial Area
Project: Youth Crack HIV/AIDS
Impact: Has reached out to 107 people, including students, school dropouts and the elderly
Contact: +256774213151
FOR the first two years in his secondary school, Zephaniah Ssensuwa (not real name,) 17, used to sit alone in the corner of his classroom, lost in thought. Everyday, Moses Musazi Ssenyonyi, his teacher at Trinity High School in Kawempe division, wondered what was wrong with the boy.
“Sometimes he would burst out crying. Outside the classroom, he did not interact with anyone,†says Ssenyonyi.
One day, Ssenyonyi decided to talk to him. “He opened up and told me he was HIV-positive.
I counselled him and encouraged him to share his problems with others to reduce the stress,†Ssenyonyi says.
Today, Ssensuwa, who is on antiretroviral therapy, is a happy boy and loves school.
Lynda Nabisere (not real name), 17, is another student that Ssenyonyi helped have a new lease on life.
Her parents died of HIV and little did she know that she had been born with the disease.
Nabisere, who is on ARVs, says she has undergone a lot HIV/AIDS training under Ssenyonyi.
“Without Master Ssenyonyi, I would not have a future. I share what I learn with my schoolmates and the community,†she says.
Ssenyonyi’s direct beneficiaries total 107 (49 females and 58 males), all HIV-positive. They include students, school-drop outs and the elderly. There are also many others who have benefited indirectly.
In July this year, Ssenyonyi started the Youth Crack HIV/AIDS programme after attending the Africa Youth summit in Cape Town, South Africa organised by the Global Changemakers and the British Council in May this year.
At the end of the summit, every participant was assigned a project to implement back home to change people’s lives. That is when he came up with the Youth Crack HIV/AIDS project.
“It is a school programme aiming at reducing discrimination of young people living with HIV/AIDs in schools,†Ssenyonyi explains.
The programme is being implemented by YES-Uganda with the help of the British Council and the Global Changemakers’ team. It is also supported by the Government, civil society and well wishers.
So far, the programme has been rolled out in Kampala, Wakiso and Luweero districts.
“Participants share and learn sexual reproductive issues and how best they can fight HIV/AIDS,†he says.
The youth have also been trained to become trainers. They design and implement HIV/AIDS training plans in their communities.
According to Ssenyonyi, the project will be rolled out in two phases. “The first one started on July 1 this year and is expected to end in December.
The second phase will run from January 2010 to April 15, the same year. After that, participants will assess its performance and determine the way forward.
What was his inspiration?
He says it was his experience when he was in Primary Five at Kyamukonda Primary School in Luweero district in 1997.
One day, his religious education teacher, Annah Abigali, told the pupils during a lesson: “Ssenyonyi and his aunt’s death certificates have been signed by God.â€
At that time Ssenyonyi was looking after her paternal aunt, Mbazira, who was suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Seated in the middle row, Ssenyonyi felt infuriated and began sweating. He wondered what to tell his classmates who threw glances at him.
After the lesson, word spread like a bushfire and the whole school got wind of it.
Ssenyonyi kept away from school for some time, but the school authorities did not bother to find out why. “From then on, my life took on a different twist. I lived a lonely life with few friends.
“It was the first time I saw someone suffering from HIV/AIDS. My aunt died in 1994,†Ssenyonyi recalls.
Born in 1986 to Frederick Zziwa and Deborah Nankya of Migyera village, Nabiswera sub-county, Nakasongola district, Ssenyonyi is the fourth-born in a family of nine.
His parents were poor and could not afford to pay school fees for all of them. During his primary and secondary, he did odd jobs to raise school fees.
After completing primary school, Ssenyonyi was admitted to St. Andrews Kaggwa Secondary in Kasaala, Luweero district, where he did his O and A’ level.
Turning point
In Senior Three, one of Ssenyonyi’s close friends, Frank Kijjambu, lost his parents to HIV/AIDS. The same year, Ssenyonyi started having persistent fevers.
“Later, I developed a rash all over my body and sores in my mouth. Together with Kijjambu, we were advised to take an HIV test.
“When the results came out, I was HIV-positive and Kijjambu negative. This was a very big blow to my life. I was a virgin and I am still one today.
“From that day, I kept to myself and cried most of the time,’ Ssenyonyi recalls.
In 2006, Ssenyonyi joined Makerere University for a bachelors degree in education and has just completed his course.
Ssenyonyi took a second HIV test at Kasaala, Luweero in 2007 and the results were still positive. However, this year, he took a third test at Mengo Secondary School, which came out negative.
For all this time, Ssenyonyi has never taken ARVS. Ssenyonyi says his first close contact with a girl was in Senior Six. “She wooed me, but I didn’t give in. Unfortunately, she died of AIDS in 2007.â€
To this day, Ssenyonyi has never understood how he acquired HIV. “Everyday, I ask myself a million questions on how I got HIV, but I can’t trace the avenue. Was it at a dentists’?
I have had my teeth removed twice; in 1994, when I was in Primary Six and and in 2005 when in Senior Four,†he says.
Ssenyonyi says he does not believe he got HIV from his parents since all his siblings are negative. “Could I have got it while caring for my late aunt?†he wonders.
Do you know anyone who has played an important role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in their communities? Nominate the person, indicating name, phone contact and what the person has done in his/her community to help people PREVENT HIV infection. Also give your name and phone number. Write to: The Features Editor, The New Vision, P.O Box 9815, Kampala. or email: feature@newvision.co.ug