...In his homeland of Uganda, Bahinyoza said that aided by the government the number of people infected with HIV has significantly decreased in the past two decades. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the incidence of HIV in Uganda was "astronomical." "Virtually every family in Uganda is affected by HIV or AIDS," said Bahinyoza. He has lost eight brothers because of AIDS. He said the government of Uganda stepped up in an attempt to slow the rate of infection of the HIV virus among the citizens.

"We needed to do something or we would find ourselves in great trouble," he said. With support of the government, there was a push to encourage the young, single people to abstain from having sex and for married couples to be monogamous."It was a do-or-die situation, a make-or-break thing," he said. "It was tragic what was happening." Bahinyoza said the message of "making choices that matter that are for health and life" was constantly being promoted throughout the country.

"Uganda has experienced the most significant decline of HIV prevalence of any country in the world," he said. Bahinyoza said the rate has increased a little bit since 2002 to 6.7 percent following a strong push for natives to use condoms. He said the use of condoms provided a false sense of security and has led to an increase in HIV infections.

Again a campaign is being waged to promote abstinence and monogamy among the residents, he said. "It's something that's saved lives," he said of the campaign. "We remind people to make healthy choices for life. "In the face of what's happened in Uganda," he said, "there is hope."
                                                                                      -by Gayle Perez of THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN