Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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The New Vision (Uganda) - September 7, 2001
Charles Wendo And Anthony Mugeere
The award, Distinguished Leadership Excellence in the Fight against HIV/AIDS in the World, was jointly given by the US-based AIDS Health-care Foundation, the UK's Community Health and Information Network and Uganda's Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.
Representatives of the three organisations jointly presented Museveni with a transparent jade pyramid just after he opened the first ever Great Lakes Conference on HIV/AIDS care and support, at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe. The jade pyramid was made in Los Angeles, USA.
Museveni said the award was not only for himself but also for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the people of Uganda and donors. He said the NRM created a conducive environment to fight HIV/AIDS, the communities listened to the call for behaviour change while the donors continuously gave support. "If our organisation (NRM) had not kicked out the dictators for another five years, I don't know what would have happened here. So this is also an award for the NRM and for all Ugandans," he said.
The four-day event was also addressed by health state minister Mike Mukula; the President of the AIDS Health Care Foundation, Michael Weinstein; the executive director of the AIDS Health Care Foundation, Henry Chang; the UNICEF country representative, Michel Sidibe and the chairman of the Uganda Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Dickson Opul.
Museveni said though many times he disagrees with donors, they continue to help Uganda in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
"After we quarrel, they help," the President further said. The conference, under the theme, Overcoming Barriers to HIV/AIDS Care and Support - Time for Action, has attracted over 600 delegates from 20 countries. It is organised by the Uganda Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, the International AIDS Care Foundation and Community Health and Information Network.
Sidibe called for legislation to protect AIDS orphans, who face social stigma and sometimes lose property after the death of their parents.
Recent reports have said that the rate of HIV infection has further dropped in Uganda.
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