Introduction.
Let’s Walk Uganda’s Weekly News Brief is our take on what Ugandan Key Population updates are worth
your time. The News Brief updates our partners and allies about the progress of our organization activities, summarized as, Internal Developments. The News Brief also provides a curated perspective on events happening within the Ugandan Key Population, summarized as, External Developments. Given the
rapidly changing landscape, we decided to make it more widely available. We also aim to keep it smart, efficient; worthy of your time, attention and trust.
Internal Developments
1. Let’s Walk Uganda received Covid-19 relief from a global movement team of love and equality, who preferred anonymity as per the terms and conditions of our binding agreement. We thank you for the donation that enabled our Young MSM members to have better access to food, transport, masks, accommodation to mention but a few. We thank you! We love you!
2. Let’s Walk Uganda helped save another life of a member of the Young MSM Community through our online counselling services as this individual had resolved to take his life upon the discovery of his sexual orientation by his family. This brings our total number of received attempted cases to 4 (four) in 2020. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10-24 and LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.
3. Let’s Walk Uganda also participated in the first module of the community paralegal training organized by Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), with the aim of building our legal advocacy skills that will enable us to serve better the Young MSM Community.
4. Let’s Walk Uganda also participated in the Data Digitalization project organized by Ice Breakers Uganda which aims to develop and promote better digital collection and storage practices among LGBT and Sex Workers.
External Developments
1. Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) asked the government to scrap petty offences out of Ugandan law books during a national stakeholder’s dialogue on the decriminalization and declassification of petty offences in Uganda at Golf Course Hotel, saying, keeping them does not address the underlying social economic problems the country is facing now.
2. Along similar lines, Winnie Mugambwa, from Rella Women Foundation and Stella Kaliba from Uganda Network of Sex worker led Organizations (UNESO) also discussed on Beat FM Radio Station the criminalization of poverty through the Penal Code Act and the call for Decriminalization of Petty Offences in Uganda.
3. HRAPF also successfully held their 11th Annual General Meeting while simultaneously launching their new home along Nsubuga Road, Off Old Kira Road (Ntinda- Kiwatule Road), Behind Kobil Petrol Station, Ntinda.
4. Sexual reproductive health is an important aspect of young people’s health in a bid to achieve universal health coverage, and to expound on the conversations, Rella Women Foundation hosted their first inter-generational dialogue on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, dissecting topics on HIV and Sexual and Gender Based Violence. Ice Breakers Uganda also helped deliver counselling sessions to over 15 members ofRella Women Foundation at the Rella Utopia.
5. Lady Mermaid’s Bureau conducted a ScoreCard activity at Makerere University Hospital with Makerere University Joint AIDS Program – MJAP to identify health service issues, strengthen their working relationship and strategize to improve stigma free services for Sex Workers and other Key Populations. Lady Mermaid’s Bureau also her 3 years project (2020-2023) titled Global Fund for Women funded Sexual Reproductive Health Services and Rights Project for Sex Workers’ in Kampala and Wakiso Districts. Lady Mermaid’s Bureau also held her monthly Adherence Meeting aimed at providing psychosocial support & devising strategies to sustain Adherence among SWs affected by Covid-19 Pandemic.
6. Ice Breakers Uganda (IBU) had a visit from their partner, Inter Religious Medical Bureau Coalition (IBC) and Uganda Empowerment Mission (UGEM) to strategize on paving a way for a new health project.
7. Rainbow Mirrors Uganda had a staff training in lobbying and advocacy where they explored what advocacy is, what lobbying is, the differences between lobbying and advocacy, strategies in advocacy and how to be advocates for the things they care about. Rainbow mirrors also carried out an HIV testing service outreach in Makindye, providing their members with free HIV counselling and testing, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and enrollment/linkage on ART and PrEP. Their Drop In Centre is open on a daily basis with special check-ins on Tuesday for those who want to be enrolled on PrEP. Rainbow Mirrors was also part of the team that carried out a community monitoring scorecard on ISS-symptoms scale at Mulago with special support from MHAP and AWAC.
8. WERO Uganda received nutritional support from their partner JEEWAG-UG to help WERO female sex workers in the landing site of Kasenyi have better access to food during these trying times. WERO Uganda also visited the same area to deliver quality sanitary pads, face masks and sexual health information to sex workers in the area.
9. Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy (OGERA) with support from Infectious Disease Institute (IDI) under the KPIF project conducted 4 hotspot based sensitization dialogues led in the areas of Kisenyi Muzaana, Carlifonia Bar, Hannies Pub and Kasaato Mengo using the Steppingstone Approach. Participants also received STDs/STIs prevention deliverables.
10. Wave Of Legacy Alliance Initiative is conducting a continuous skill training for their unemployed members to enable them a living through the skills gained as a means of lowering poverty levels among young LGBTQ persons.
11. Masaka KP HIV Prevention and Support Organisation (MAHIPSO) conducted HIV Testing Services and sensitization dialogues to promote PREP adherence, self-testing, condom use with in Masaka, Lyantonde, and Kyotera districts supported by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) through the Rakai Health Services Program (RHSP). MAHIPSO, with support from Frontline AIDS were also able to provide more nutritional support to MSM and Sex Workers in greater Masaka area.
12. Fem Alliance Uganda in partnership with GATE/Global Fund carried out a two days training for capacity strengthening for transgender persons in Uganda.
13. Children Of The Sun Uganda (COSF) in conjunction with Taala Foundation are providing mental health services at their COSF Medical Services with professional therapists to help combat the ever growing problems of poor mental health among sexual minorities.
14. JEEWAG team through Social Networking Site strategy conducted HIV testing, ART enrollment for positives, PrEP services, STI and TB screening, including treatment, with health professionals from The Aids Support Organisation targeting Female Sex Workers in Wakiso district and Kasokoso Kiganda. With Support from Frontline AIDS, JEEWAG also delivered food relief items to vulnerable sex workers in Mukono and Buikwe landing sites to support them take their medication during the Covid-19 crisis.
15. Men OfThe Night conducted a very successful Trainer ofTrainees session in Mbale District in order to address HIV treatment knowledge gapes. More experienced trained Persons Living with HIV “PLHIV” will be their linkages in disseminating information to their peers.
16. West Nile Rainbow Initiative (WERAIN) organized a community dialogue their Resource Center between Law Enforcers and Key Population to harmonize KP community related legal challenges that affect their access to HIV prevention, treatment and linkage health services in West Nile. WERAIN also held their 4th quarter Performance Review Meeting at the Arua Local Government offices to present their KPIF Project Progress Report to the officials of Arua Local Government/City and the stakeholders who work with them us in improving KP work. The meeting was supported by Infectious Diseases Institute – Makerere University and chaired by the CAO Arua District.
17. Come Out Post Test Club (COPTEC) conducted a sensitization meeting with law enforcers within Lyantonde district, to mitigate conflicts between key populations and in terms of HIV service delivery within the region. This was a success with special support from CDC through RHSP.
18. Women With A Mission conducted an awareness session on human rights and anti-narcotic laws affecting People Who Use Drugs (PWUDs). The objective of the session was to increase knowledge of PWUDs on their rights and laws affecting them in order to report any violations against them for redress. Many of these violations are committed by law enforcement agencies, duty bearers and the members of the public.
19. Under KPIF project, Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) successfully conducted their final dialogue with LBQ women on how best they can contribute and fight HIV, STDs and Gender Based Violence.
20. Kuchu Shiners Uganda conducted a dialogue in Katwe suburb area to disseminate information regarding the causes of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Ugandan community and how to deliver care for the victims ofGBV.
21. Spectrum Uganda conducted multiple activities in Kabarole district that included the formation of community advisory groups on key population existence, engagement of duty bearers to reduce structural barriers to HIV and community cards at Kataraka, Kabarole.
22. Kuchu Times Media Groups is looking for self-driven and dedicated persons to join their Board of Directors. The BOD will be tasked with bringing skills and experience in setting KTMG on a sustainable and fiscal pathway to expand our reach and capacity as a media house focused on Uganda’s LGBT community. More on this in the link below with the closing date set on 28th September 2020 https://www.kuchutimes.com/2020/09/opportunity-call-for-expression-of-interest-
for-board-of-directors-of-ktmg/
23. Taala Foundation launched a report from The Taala Fireplace (TFP) project that was implemented between July 2019 and May 2020. Taala Foundation applied Inter Personal Therapy for groups (IPT- G) as a treatment for depression among sexual and gender diverse people from the LGBTQ community in Uganda. More on this in the link below https://taalafoundation.org/curving-out-a-new- meaning-of-happiness-at-the-taala-fireplace-a-review-of-a-pilot-mental-health-initiative-among- gender-and-sexual-diverse-people-in-uganda/2020/
Prepared by
John Grace
General Manager
Let’s Walk Uganda
Email: lwuganda@gmail.com
Website: https://fb.com/LWUganda
Telephone: +256702906536