Elvis Basudde
25 November 2007
Kampala — SHE may be infected with HIV, but that has not stopped her from achieving her long-term ambition to excel in life. Sylvia Nakibuule, 27, caused a stir when she went to WBS Television and made a public declaration about her HIV-positive status.
"I chose to announce my status in order to give a face to HIV, especially among female artists and young ladies. I also wanted to fight stigma and let people know that with good care and treatment, one can still enjoy a good degree of health and even continue practising one's profession," she said.
Nakibuule is a rising vocalist making her mark on the Ugandan contemporary pop music scene with her rocking single Mpawamuka. Dr. Alex Coutinho, the outgoing executive director of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), helped sponsored the song.
Nakibuule says she uses her music to educate Ugandans about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and to caution the youth to guard themselves against it.
"I never wanted this to happen to me, so I don't want it to happen to you. The message I want to give the youth is let us do our best to have a virus-free young generation. Be careful in the way you handle yourself," she says.
Nakibuule says she was inspired by Philly Bongole Lutaaya who launched a crusade against HIV/AIDS in 1989.
But, because Mpawamuka is a love song, hardline HIV/AIDS activists have attacked her for not composing songs that have messages on HIV/AIDS. She is quick to defend herself, saying she has already written songs about HIV/AIDS and will release them when she gets a sponsor.
Nakibuule has been a singer since she was a student, but she was to nurture her talent later in TASO Mulago Drama Group, where she is a member and features prominently as a lead vocalist. The group has been staging advocacy shows and using theatre as a weapon to pass on facts on HIV/AIDS and to help in reducing stigma and discrimination. All the members are HIV-positive, but live normal lives. "People should stand warned that it is not about the person's looks," Nakibuule says.
She learned of her HIV status in 2000. At first, the news of her HIV status was terrifying and she wanted to die.
Then she thought: "I must try to make the best of my situation. I opened up to a few close friends about my status and started living positively with HIV/AIDS. I felt relieved," she says.
She says she has managed to cope due to a positive attitude, social and spiritual support. She takes care of herself. She makes sure she gets prompt medication and eats a balanced diet. She has also stopped worrying about death.
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