What inspires you?

I am inspired by public health activities that target young people through enhancing their ability to better manage their own health. My energies are directed towards building capacity of individuals to improve their productivity, quality of life and reduce susceptibility to disease.

Tell us about an issue that matters to you and how you became aware and involved.

I have been faced by encounters with young people prenatally infected with HIV; however had self-stigma especially when they went to school. These young people often never informed the school administration including the school nurse about their HIV status as well as their parents who kept quiet, with fear of their children being denied to enroll in to school. For other students who got to know about fellow student’s HIV status it’s was a night mare and wished never to reveal if at one time they tested positive! The great myth was that ‘’it was the end of the road for their friends’’ hence these students could not access ARV treatment and for those who had, often defaulted due to self-stigma and lack of psychosocial support. Thus fell sick time after time and were sent back home for treatment unknowingly, poor class performance always manifested! In 2007 i joined group of volunteers with a primary goal of reaching to young people both at school through an organized team that was named HealthAid.
Today we are working with different groups of young people to spread awareness against discrimination and segregation of young people infected with HIV/AIDS

Share your perspectives on what makes a good leader.

Good leaders are those who can change with the times. They are the ones with foresight and adaptability, who don't rule from a manual but rather customize a culture that is specific to each organization or community, its mission and the personality of its work force.

Do you think TakingITGlobal can help you achieve some of your goals? Have we already? Please tell us how.

I believe with TIG's international community platform I can be in position to share with the whole world what we are doing in our local communities in Uganda as young people both in school and in the communities, and how this has impacted on the lives of the young people. Sharing different stories and approaches helps us to clearly understand what different interventions can be used to promote healthy and productive individuals and communities.