Uganda was notorious in the 80s for its human rights violations under a series of dictators. However, under the leadership of President Museveni in the last 15 years, it has achieved stability and prosperity as well as a huge reduction in HIV/AIDS infection rates from 30% to 6% with a high level political commitment to fighting AIDS and aggressive public education campaigns. However, civil war continues to rage in the north with 1.5 million displaced people still living in camps.
HOPEHIV has funded work in Uganda since 2001. We are equipping orphans in the camps of the war-torn north to develop vocational skills and advocate for their rights. In the capital, Kampala, our Bambejja Girls' Project offers vulnerable girls from the slums a second chance to get an education and work skills. Our youth-led SAFY project works with marginalised and at risk youth in the urban slums to offer them opportunity. In Africa the needs of disabled children often come last on the list, but HOPEHIV has broken new ground by building the Masaka Special Needs School for orphans with hearing and speech difficulties as well as supporting the Good Samaritan School.
