Kampala — This year, to commemorate the World AIDS Day, December 1, The New Vision, in conjunction with the parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDS, will award individuals who have played a remarkable role in the fight against HIV in their communities. Profiles of the people nominated by the public will be published everyday until the end of November.

A 'MONSTER' snatched his parents, left him with a big family to look after with no hope for survival. Moses Okwonga was robbed of peace and luxury when he was still a child. The suffering he endured bore in him a spirit and desire to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge to save others.

"I made a decision never to succumb to the HIV monster like my parents did. I lived a life of regret until I resolved to do something about the scourge," says the soft-spoken 29-year-old.

Growing up in a broken family, Okwonga lost his father to HIV/AIDS in 1990 and seven years later, his mother succumbed to the disease, leaving his in charge of his four siblings.

However, after the death of his mother, Okwonga saw the need to sensitise the community about the disease. He did this voluntarily without expecting anything in return. Indeed, no one feeds his account with a monthly salary for his contributions to the struggle.

"But I feel relieved, wherever I go into the field to educate the young people about HIV/AIDS. I believe my departed mother also appreciates it." Okwonga is still a virgin and is HIV-negative.

"I have never had sex. I am ready to remain a virgin till I have made a significant impact in the HIV fight.

"It is a vow I have made to God and I will honestly keep it. This is a message I always take to the youth I meet," he says.

It is past mid-day when I bump into Okwonga on his daily escapades of hunting for HIV affected and infected students in universities around town. He looks worn out, but very determined.

Instead of looking for jobs after graduating, Okwonga devoted his life to sensitising students about HIV/AIDS. With no income-generating activity to sustain his family, Okwonga is struggling to maintain his free HIV counselling sessions.

"I walk several miles everyday to ensure that I reach my clients. It is tough, but I have to move on," he adds.

Okwonga lives a simple life in a Kampala suburb. During the week, he traverses Kampala's suburbs spreading the HIV fight 'gospel'. He uses all means of transport available to him. But most of the time, he walks.

Okwonga has helped change a number of lives. One of his beneficiaries, an HIV-positive second year student of Makerere University, says: "Okwonga is a young and convincing HIV activist. We find it easy to confide in him because he is within our age bracket."

A dynamic speaker, Okwonga says the character of a counsellor does a lot to change his or her clients. Indeed, his character seems to have a lot of impact on the HIV infected and affected people that he counsels.

He started his HIV fight in 2003 in Luweero district with a group of other young activists under the Emmausi Centre.

His team used to go to schools and other educational institutions sensitising students and teachers about HIV/AIDS. However, he later broke away from the group and started working alone. He has visited several schools and universities in Uganda and East Africa.

"I realised that I could dedicate more time to the struggle while working alone than as a group," he explains.

A few years ago, he enrolled for a degree in social sciences at Makerere University.

"But after completing the course, I realised I needed to undertake a counselling course," he explains.

He later joined Kampala International University for a masters degree in project planning and plans to set up an HIV senstisation organisation one day.

Over the years, Okwonga has actively worked with different interventionist individuals on HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights, engaging in networks and partnership projects.

As a volunteer, he organises several campaigns with the aim of raising HIV/AIDS awareness among students.

He says the Government should do more to help people with HIV.

"Although antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are given free by the Ministry of Health with the support of the national AIDS programme, sometimes there are shortages. At such times, patients have to foot their bills for CD4 tests, ARVs and for the treatment of opportunistic infections.

"We need positive leadership to fight stigma and discrimination in society. Public awareness campaigns are few. A lot needs to be done," he says.

Okwonga also believes that more counsellors are needed in order to reach out to more people.

"There is need to carry out more individual counselling sessions. One-on-one sessions are the best in helping HIV-positive people. Many people test positive and soon die because they are stigmatised and also due to the fact that they are poor and cannot afford medication," he explains.

Okwonga is determined to see his big dream come to pass.

FACT FILE

Name: Moses Okwonga

Location: Kampala

Contribution: Sensitising students about the HIV/AIDS

Quote: Counselling is born in a counsellors character. The way we live should tell what we are trying to say.