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One of UNDP's publications on HIV/AIDS

A High level Religious Leaders Conference on HIV/AIDS and maternal health was held at Botanical Beach hotel in Entebbe on the 15th of April 2010 to bring on board religious leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Speaking to the Conference, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Theophane Nikyema, said that although Uganda is famed worldwide for bringing down HIV/AIDS infections from 18 per cent to the current 6.2, the infection rate was still high and that the current trend shown by surveys where new infections are rising among married couples needs to be addressed fast or else the country will again go down the slope.

Mr. Nikyema cited a 2008 UNDP study, “Marco-economic Impact of HIV/AIDS in Uganda” which shows that that the GDP grows by 1.2 percent less due to the macroeconomic effect of AIDS, and that AIDS increases the percentage of households living below the poverty line by 1.4 percent overall and by 1.6 percent in rural areas.

He said the Conference for Religious Leaders was based on the understanding that over 90% of Ugandans belong to one of the Faiths: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Greek Orthodox or Born Again. He said leaders of these Faiths are very influential amongst their flocks. That is the reason the UN is tapping into this influence to take the agenda of HIV/AIDS to the families in responding to HIV and AIDS and maternal deaths.

He pointed out that UNAIDS, the UN family Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, has developed and is implementing a partnership framework for faith based organizations. “Just last month, a meeting similar to this one was held in Netherlands. The meeting brought together religious leaders from several religions from all over the World to re energize their efforts in responding to HIV and AIDS,” he said.

Present in the Conference were: Archbishops Dr. Cyprian Lwanga of the Roman Catholic Church, Archibishop Luke Orombi of the Anglican Church, Dr. Jonah Lwanga of the Orthodox, Shaban Mubaje, Mufti of Uganda and Dr. Joseph Sserwada, who represented the Born Again Faith.

He also noted that it was good to have all the leaders of the major faiths in the country under the umbrella of the inter-religious council to organise this conference since a majority of Ugandans belong to one faith or another and also because faith plays an important role in peoples’ lives.

Religious leaders, he added, have a very strong impact on peoples’ lives and its important tap into tap into their power to take the frontline of the HIV/AIDs war to families.

Studies show that females remain more likely than males to be infected with HIV, due to economic, cultural and biological reasons. The number of new infections continues to grow in Uganda: in 2008 there were 1.1 million people living with HIV, of whom 120,000 were children.

He said that HIV/AIDS is a critical and central issue under the just signed United Nations development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). Mr. Nikyema pledged the continued support of the United Nations in supporting Uganda’s national response to HIV and AIDS and maternal deaths.