HIV+ couple weds on World AIDS Day

Dec 01, 2013

The chairman of the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in Kamuli district, John Stephen Salamuka, 60, excited many when he wed Alice Namugeere, 46, on December 1, also World AIDS Day.

By Tom Gwebayanga

The chairman of the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in Kamuli district, John Stephen Salamuka, 60, excited many when he wed Alice Namugeere, 46, on December 1, also World AIDS Day. The couple, living with HIV/AIDS, made their matrimonial vows before Fr. Aloysius Nkalubo in Nankulyaku Church of Uganda on Sunday.

Thunderous applause from the congregation filled the church as the couple said, “I do,” at the function. It was attended by bigwigs from AIDS support organisations, political, religious and cultural institutions.

In his sermon, Nkalubo urged the couple to spice their marriage with love, trust and hard work in order to accelerate their marriage and life spans. “Going public about your status promotes the fight against HIV/AIDS in our communities,” Nkalubo said, adding, “Choosing a partner of your status means ‘zero grazing’. I am happy you made the right choice.”

Salamuka said he chose to marry so he and his wife could remind each other to take ARVs on time. Salamuka said he tested HIV positive 25 years ago before his wives, Maimuna Muzei and Alice Bamukwa died in 1990 and 2003 respectively, and has lived on ARVs since then.

“I got the virus from Maimuna, the woman I got as a ‘donation’ from her father, for being a hardworking man. Little did I know that her husband had died of AIDS,” the 60-year-old retired sub-county chief said.

Namugeere urged women to always test for HIV before marriage to avoid future frustrations.

The couple later had a reception at Busiba village, where residents ate and drunk to their fill.

Dr. John Kalende, a senior clinical officer in Kamuli Hospital and the district TASO coordinator said the couple showed courage in going public with their status.

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