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We People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda wish to register our concern at the consistent derogatory remarks made by the President and members of his cabinet.
For a long time we have complained about the cynicism, conspiracy, discrimination and condemnation of People Living with HIV/AIDS. The
statements, which have been made recently by the President, are intended to incite the public and society to marginalize, discriminate and ostracize us.

We People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda wish to register our concern
at the consistent derogatory remarks made by the President and mem-
bers of his cabinet.

For a long time we have complained about the cynicism, conspiracy,
discrimination and condemnation of People Living with HIV/AIDS. The
statements, which have been made recently by the President, are in-
tended to incite the public and society to marginalize, discriminate
and ostracize us.

We wish to point out that these open statements are taking us back to
a time when no body wanted to talk about AIDS and therefore destroy-
ing all the achievements made over the years. It is unbearable that
the President who has been a darling of the world for appropriate re-
sponse to HIV/AIDS becomes the leading President to discriminate and
stigmatise People living with HIV/AIDS. For example;-

1. In his interview with John Githongo of Executive Magazine,
Museveni said ".I am worried about other things. AIDS is not really
such a big crisis. Voluntarily you go and look for it. What will hap-
pen is that many people will die and then others will begin to
fear... The population of Uganda is now 17 million. Even if you as-
sume that 2 million will die, you will still remain with 15 million
which is higher than the population of 1956..."
Executive, Sept 1993, pg 36.

2. We strongly believe that this continued use of HIV/AIDS in this
light is meant to create contempt on the lives of People living with
HIV/AIDS. This is expounded in his interview with Riz Khan of CNN in-
terview during the United Nations Security Council meeting early
2000. President Museveni should realize that of people infected and
affected with HIV/AIDS are children who are completely innocent of
their plight.

3. He is on record that while passing out 167 army cadets and 91 po-
lice officers at Jinja, Museveni said ".that there is no reason why
People living with HIV/AIDS should be offered opportunity in the
army. Because training officers who later die not from bullets in
combat but from AIDS is so frustrating. It is like fetching water in
a basket with holes."
See Monitor 26th. Aug. 2000, Pg 1 & 2.

4. According to the Monitor 12th. March 2001 the president said, "A
president should be someone fully in control of his mental and physi-
cal faculties both mental and physical", adding that, "there is no
reason to wait for someone to get into office and get sick". The
president therefore implied that a Person with HIV/AIDS has no busi-
ness looking for a job because he is as good as dead. In December
2000 while in Addis Abbaba during the African Development Forum the
President said that the army was not a hospital, implying that HIV
positive people had no place in the army. This was even confirmed by
his government policy in promoting UPDF soldiers. As Commander in
Chief of UPDF, Minister of defence and Chairman of High Command, his
policy was stated by his Minister of State for defence Steven Kavuma
in the New Vision of September, 8TH. 2000, "... With the advent of
HIV, one of the factors considered when promoting individuals in the
army is their HIV status. If your HIV status may not be conducive to
your training... that would reflect against your chances of advancing
further." This form of discrimination is not only unconstitutional
but its implications are very far reaching:

* An army officer with HIV/AIDS is a liability;
* He/She is shunned, demoralized and frustrate;
* There is more fear, more stress and depression;
* He /She ultimately quickly weakens and dies.

While this discrimination goes on there is no policy to ensure that
UPDF soldiers receive AIDS treatment. Those who receive it do so un-
der patronage of the President. Many of you may have heard about the
recent derogatory statements during President Museveni's campaigns
against People living with HIV/ADS where his statement infers that
People Living with HIV/AIDS should never aspire for any employment.

In view of the continued persecution of People Living with HIV/AIDS
we have written and circulated a call requesting the government to
address the Employment policy for People Living with HIV/AIDS and
other disadvantaged Groups. It is therefore very sad that government
does not seem to care about the plight of People living with HIV/AIDS
and instead condemns them. People Living with HIV/AIDS now live in
fear and bewilderment not knowing where to go because the statements
made by the President have been meant to incite the public and pri-
vate sector to discriminate against People Living with HIV/AIDS. Con-
sequently, we are seeing unacceptable behavior in the private sector
such as mandatory testing for HIV before one gets a job, compulsory
termination, lack of promotion and ostracism by other workers. Unfor-
tunately this situation is setting the clock back and taking all the
efforts of Ugandans in fighting the spread, stigmatization, and de-
nial down the drain.

Uganda has been hailed as a model of fighting the war against AIDS in
Africa; See New Vision Nov. 8th. 2000. The President of World Vision
International among many leaders hailed our efforts. He said that
within a year World Vision would be multiplying the good work done
here in Uganda through out Africa. "Every project that the World Vi-
sion runs on the continent will incorporate elements of this campaign
into its structure". We fear that President Museveni and his govern-
ment's continued attacks on People Living with HIV/AIDS will cause a
serious social damage. For instance the Vice President of Uganda with
a medical background said in parliament on 27th. March 2001 that Peo-
ple with HIV/AIDS should be told in the face since AIDS is like ma-
laria. These utterances are inciting people further. The Vice Presi-
dent is inciting violence against People Living with HIV/AIDS and we
should not be surprised if we see a Gugu Dlamini incident happen in
Uganda. Gugu is a South African woman Living with HIV who was stoned
to death by her neighbours when she openly declared her HIV status on
World AIDS day 1999 in Kwazulu Natal. Gugus's only crime was to de-
clare that she had HIV and that was enough to incite the public to
stone her to death.

We are finally appealing to all Ugandans, the International Community
and particularly this august gathering of gallant Women and Men of
Africa gathered in the name of HIV/AIDS to condemn the behavior of
anyone especially the political leaders in breach of the Dakar and
Paris declaration of 1991 and 1994 respectively.

From:

* NGEN+: National Guidance and Empowerment Network of People Living
with HIV/AIDS
* NACWOLA: National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS
* NESPPHA: Network of Skilled and Professional People Living with
HIV/AIDS

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Marianne Tshihamba
The Global Health Council
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006, USA
mailto:[email protected]

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