FORT PORTAL, December 5, 2024 — Authorities in Fort Portal City and Kabarole district have intensified efforts in the battle against HIV/AIDS, with a particular focus on reducing its spread among young adolescent women.
To combat new HIV/AIDS infections, the local authorities have launched a project aimed at empowering more than 2,000 girls, aged between 10 and 24 years, to become self-reliant.
The project, named Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe [DREAMS], seeks to reduce women’s vulnerability to transactional sex and other risky behaviours that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS. By equipping young women with vocational skills, the project aims to enable them to create their own jobs and be self-reliant.
The project has enrolled adolescents in a variety of skill-building programmes, including mechanics, hairdressing, knitting, catering, and tailoring.
Additionally, under the project, young women are receiving treatment for sexually transmitted infections [STIs], pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] to prevent HIV transmission through unprotected sex, and condoms, among other health interventions, such as access to condoms.
Richard Rwabuhinga, the Chairperson of Kabarole District Local Government, emphasised that providing young women with practical skills allows them to earn a living independently, reducing their reliance on men who might exploit them for financial support.
He added that vocational skills are more profitable than seeking traditional employment or depending on men. “For example, a person with a salon can earn up to 3 million shillings a month, which is double my salary,” Rwabuhinga noted.
Rwabuhinga also urged young people to organise themselves into groups so they can access government funding through initiatives like the Youth Livelihood Programme [YLP], the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP], and the Parish Development Model [PDM], among others.
HIV/AIDS in the Region
Of recent, Fort Portal City and Kabarole district have recorded HIV prevalence rates higher than the national average of 5.1 percent, despite ongoing efforts by local leaders and health authorities to curb the spread of the virus in the area.
According to the latest statistics from the Uganda AIDS Commission [UAC], Fort Portal City has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the country at 14.1 percent, while Kabarole District stands at 11.6 percent, significantly above the national average.
Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital [FRRH] serves the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS among the 13 health facilities accredited to provide HIV/AIDS services in the region. As of the latest data, FRRH is providing care to 8,134 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including 5,134 females and 3,001 males.
Stakeholders attribute this high prevalence to the vulnerability of women, which puts them at greater risk of contracting the virus.
Rev. Sarah Kakyo from the Ruwenzori Diocese explained that cross-generational sex is a significant factor in the rise of new HIV/AIDS infections. “Older men, many of whom are infected with HIV, seek relationships with young girls, luring them with money. These young girls, in turn, engage in relationships with these men in exchange for financial support and end up contracting the virus,” Kakyo said.
Call for behaviour change and addressing stereotypes
Betty Mujungu, the Deputy Mayor of Fort Portal City, highlighted the need for behaviour change and the dismantling of stereotypes in the Tooro sub-region.
“There is a misguided belief that Batooro people engage in early sexual activity, which is not true, and we condemn such claims. It is not part of our culture. There are many stereotypes and public misconceptions that need to be addressed because they contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS,” Mujungu said.
She also called on the Ministry of Health to reconsider how HIV/AIDS messaging is communicated, noting that the current generation prefers receiving information through songs and drama rather than traditional radio talk shows.
Challenges among sex workers
Moreen Kyobutungi, a former sex worker, and now the Executive Director of the Kabarole Women’s Health Initiative, shared that the majority of sex workers in Fort Portal City are under 18 years old.
“Many of the men who approach us in the streets refuse to use condoms, and some of the girls become infected with HIV/AIDS. When they return to the streets, they unknowingly spread the virus to others,” Kyobutungi explained.
She attributed the growing number of sex workers to poverty and domestic violence. She also highlighted how many men have abandoned their familial responsibilities, forcing women to turn to sex work to support their families.
“Many mothers bear the heavy burden of caring for their families, relying on money earned through sex work. Some young girls, facing domestic violence at home, are driven to the streets for financial support, engaging in unprotected sex,” Kyobutungi added.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, about 45 percent of sex workers in Fort Portal City are living with HIV/AIDS.
Commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic
In 2016, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukudi IV of Tooro committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, accepting the role of cultural champion for HIV/AIDS among young people in Eastern and Southern Africa.
King Oyo also serves as the UNAIDS ambassador in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
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