Kampala Key, Vulnerable and Priority Populations (KVP) News

There is a social context within which the criminal justice system operates. Scholars draw parallels of HIV criminalization with politics of law and order. It is an encounter in which treatment of culprits, who are mostly minorities in US are still treated much the same way as color bar America of the civil war era and up to 1950-1960.  HIV criminalization laws are severe and are written in the same static manner and spirit that has persisted in USA. They are coached in a manner ensuring antagonistic law and order abuses intended to punish certain racial groups (Brown 2016). Scholars continue to state that even when dignity affirming laws for all Americans could be enacted there are fears of white backlash which appears in many forms. It could be voter apathy at the voting booth or appeasement of the power-players in the state and other vested interests.This has been shown to be the case from the times of President Johnson and other liberal Democrats who were overly c...

HIV criminalization fuels further debilitation of persons living with HIV once put under incarceration. The negative effects of HIV criminalization are multi-fold: the effects range from bias, stigma to actual incarceration. HIV affects one’s immunity and in a prison setting where the model involves some form of manual labor it may lead to adverse effects. Incarceration denies the offender proper treatment and places one in conditions that continue to expose one to vulnerability contexts of TB, Hepatitis, HIV-strains other than those the offender carries. It interrupts adherence to ART. This has been documented by different scholars.   HIV criminalization is legislation that penalizes passing HIV virus to another. In the US, this has the backing of liberal and conservative white connecting it to a past in which continued opportunities to deprive economic, cultural and civic metrics of certain population groups with the sanction of federal and state gov...

Our researcher compiled over short articles on HIV criminalization. In this series, we bring you two points: our own argument that  HIV voluntary transmission criminalization should the name of the act instead of  HIV criminalization. We also bring a glimpse into  how criminalization came about. HIV criminalization should instead be called HIV voluntary transmission criminalization on the law books. HIV criminalization has structural dimensions, making it assume far reaching repercussions linked to social, political and economical deprivations for people with an HIV positive diagnosis who are booked for cases of voluntary transmission. We draws examples from US, Russia, China and RSA. HIV criminalization affects the marginalized and compounds further ostracism. In USA, the criminal justice varies according to state and can make statements where a +ve HIV diagnosis is ranked the same as a biological warfare calling on really long sentences.  In...

History of LGBTIQQ Shelters in Uganda 2004-2009 The last time a shelter for LGBTIQQ evicted, disowned and expelled for their orientation or acting queer in Uganda was known to operate was between 2004-2009. This was when Most At Risk Populations' Society In Uganda (MARPS IN UGANDA) run an apartment at Bukesa (within Kampala Capital City Authority), which was let out at a three months single renewable shelter support. This project got so overwhelmed by need but at the same time was targeted it had to close down at a time when the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was being promulgated. By 2009, it had housed 178 persons. 8 were lesbians aged 17 years to 29 years; 70 were Transgender persons aged 16 years-24 years; 50 were identifying as gay aged 18 years-55 years; 50 were identifying as Bisexual, Queer, Questioning and Non-conforming/non-binary. It cost us Uganda shillings 21,500,000 to run the facility between 2004-2009. An addition resource center was opened up in Kawaala (a suburb ...

HIV is still an epidemic of our time ( aidsinfo.info.org ). Upwards of 1 million people per year die from AIDS-related deaths, the bulk of which are in Africa (specifically Sub Saharan Africa) with Uganda as one of the countries with an increasing epidemic.  Enhanced survival is possible. Quality life is possible too. But, these two are possible in a milieu of social, economical and political contexts that provide advantages to marginalized and in this case those at the extreme who are People Living With HIV.  In commemorating the World AIDS Day, 2017, MARPS in Uganda would want to draw attention to HIV-related Criminalization. Criminalization revolves around the elements of opportunity, e.g., whether or not consenting people are aware of the penal code on sexual relation, sexuality and HIV transmission;  motive, e.g., whether consent is sought and skills to negotiate safer sex are known;  and voluntary action, e.g., whether there is culpable evidence of volu...

As the weather changes over vast areas of Africa from wet to dry, crops are harvested (this is to put it simply). Animals are culled off. Some people are able to sell off animals, crop and household assets to get money they will use for whatever next activity they see fit. That inherent and inalienable pursuit of happiness. For Farah, Kidane, Tyaba, Ochukwuchu, Ongom, and Jennifer the single driving plan was to save enough to travel out of Africa in search of greener pastures.   Farah, Kidane, Tyaba, Ochukwuchu, Ongom, and Jennifer are a representation of younger Africans who are also breadwinners in their families and communities. They are the ones who are entrusted with the responsibility and have to try all means to sustain themselves and their loved ones. To many, traveling within or out of Africa to search for greener pastures is the option. South Africa has for long been a destination by many. Others look outside the continent. They do this like other humans have done ...

When governments are behind all social improvement efforts it is a thankful moment. We bring you stories in narrative and picture form about two countries in Africa. ZIMBABWE: First, let us read about Zimbabwe in a story borrowed from AHF Newsletter: AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Zimbabwe turned one this year and to mark the happy occasion, the celebration coincided with the launch of the gold-colored ICON condoms in the country. The Ministry of Health & Child Care, four major Harare universities and AHF Zimbabwe hosted the event on Sept. 23. The festivities consisted of a multi-team sports tournament – in addition to the ICON launch and anniversary celebration, and were broadcast live on the country’s most popular radio station. “We are happy today that our partner AHF is launching a new condom here and specifically targeting our young people with this event,” said Ministry of Health & Child Care Director of AIDS and TB Units  Dr. O. Mugurungi...