By Fidel Boy Leon
Knowing something in theory is never enough. One must get their hands dirty, engage directly, and learn through action. Like felling a tree, mastering a challenge comes not by watching, but by doing, and sometimes, together.
That’s the spirit that defined the July 30, 2025 partnership meeting between Makerere University and AHF Uganda Cares.
More than a ceremonial handshake, the gathering marked the beginning of a deeper, action-driven collaboration in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with a sharp focus on Uganda’s young population, a group increasingly vulnerable to infection but also central to the country’s future.
This partnership is about shared responsibility, learning by doing, and ensuring that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to the information, support, and services they need to protect their health.
73.2% of Uganda’s population is under 30. That’s not just a demographic detail, but rather, a reality that shapes the trajectory of HIV/AIDS in the country. Young people, especially those between 14 and 24, remain the most vulnerable group to new infections.
Mr. Kizito Simon, Deputy University Secretary at Makerere, put it plainly:
“This is more than just a time bomb. This is the population we are depending on for the future.”
And yet, as sexually active youths flood onto campuses each year, many navigating freedom for the first time find sexual health conversations clouded by stigma, cultural discomfort, and silence.
Prevention is possible, but only if knowledge and services are accessible, visible, and non-judgmental.
Makerere University and AHF Uganda are working together to make sexual and reproductive health services more accessible and less stigmatised on campus. Their shared goal is to create a supportive environment where students can seek help without fear or shame.
As part of this effort, AHF Uganda Cares donated condom dispensers and condoms to promote free and discreet access. The partnership also aims to expand wellness clinics that offer reproductive health services, especially for students who may not know where to turn.
Both sides stressed the need for stronger awareness campaigns, particularly for first-year students who often arrive with limited knowledge or support. The focus is on building a health-conscious campus where care is easy to access and openly discussed.
Dr. Lubanga Augustine, National Medical Director of AHF Uganda Cares, emphasised the urgency of addressing access gaps:
“Parents and guardians don’t talk about sexual health. That silence has created generations of young people who are misinformed or too afraid to ask questions.”
He further noted that funding is increasingly being funnelled toward treatment, leaving prevention efforts under-supported, which is a dangerous shift, especially for vulnerable youths.
The 91st Guild President, H.E. Ssentamu Churchill James, painted a stark picture of campus life as one filled with rising STI cases, reckless sexual behaviour, and students navigating it all without enough information or support.
His message was simple: students need relatable, honest health education. He called for targeted messaging for first-year students, promotion of abstinence alongside practical sex education, and expanded counselling for those at risk or already affected. He also urged stronger coordination through the Guild Health Ministry, connecting efforts across residence halls.
“We need to make it easier for students to talk.”Not everyone is ready to walk into a clinic, but they might open up to a peer,” he said.
That peer-led model was echoed by Dr. Josaphat Byamugisha, Director of Makerere University Hospital. He emphasised the importance of student involvement in health education, especially through those already interning at the facility. Empowering students, both said, is key to changing the culture around sexual health.
“You learn how to cut down trees by cutting them down.” This is a reason for many of us that no amount of policy or planning can replace action. To fight HIV/AIDS amongst youth, Makerere University and AHF Uganda Cares are choosing hands-on, student-centred collaboration over detached intervention.
Their partnership is grounded in realism, empathy, and shared resolve. It recognises that services must be available, visible, and stigma-free. And that prevention must be just as prioritised as treatment.
And most of all, it acknowledges that while HIV remains a challenge, young people themselves, when empowered, can be the greatest solution.