Uganda Youth Forum takes HIV/AIDS fight to Busoga

By Rachael Nabisubi and Darious Magara

The Uganda Youth Forum (UYF) has launched an anti-HIV/AIDS campaign targeting to reach adolescent girls in Busoga region.

During the launch on Friday, the campaign under the theme; ‘End Aids among the adolescents; Kisoboka,’ youth engaged in a Kisoboko marathon.

Leonard Imanishimwe, the UYF executive director, said Building from UYF’s experience they are to conduct an Adolescent Girls HIV Awareness Campaign in Busoga Sub-Region as part of the initiative to reach the young people of Uganda.

The UYF was founded by the first lady, Janet Museveni and has for the last 23 years conducted outreaches; awareness camps; conferences and campaigns with a mandate to provide a platform for open dialogue among the youth between the ages of 10-30.

It has been focusing on issues and challenges of growing up such as sexuality and relationships for HIV Prevention, community service, career choices, patriotism, entrepreneurship and productive work ethics.

Imanishimwe said research has shown that it is important to reach girls when they are young before irreversible events like unwanted pregnancy and HIV can anchor them in poverty.

He added “UYF recognizes the need for commitment to work towards ending AIDS among the adolescent girls in Uganda by mobilizing high-level national leaderships to increase access, demand and utilization of HIV Prevention services”.

He said UYF will reach at least 2000 girls aged 10-22 in the East Central region (Busoga region) of Uganda in particular Kamuli, Mayuge, and Iganga districts and will be engaged in selected activities. The UYF is working in partnership with UNAIDS.

The “Kisoboka” Marathon held in Jinja district attracted over 1000 youth and was presided over by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, who is also the Prime Minister of Busoga Kingdom.

Muvawala said the Kingdom is happy to work with UYF to fight HIV/AIDS among the youths in the region and pledged support.

Several local leaders attended.

Why adolescent girls?

Adolescent girls in Uganda face considerable risks and vulnerabilities that affect their educational status, health and general well-being.

They are at high risk for early marriage, teenage pregnancy, early and unprotected sex, Non-consensual sex, HIV and other STIs.

They have limited income earning opportunities and high rates of illiteracy, and often experience violence and social isolation.

Uganda has one of the best legal environments on paper; however, weak implementation and enforcement limit the degree to which Ugandan policy for adolescents affects vulnerable girls.