AIDS
Let the reader not regard this story as sensational. It is a true real life experience the diocese of West Buganda has gone through in the last twenty years.
AIDS/HIV made its entry into Uganda through this diocese, apparently brought in by the liberating forces of Tanzania and Ugandan dissidents who ousted the Idi Amin regime in 1979. Up to around 1981 Ugandans believed the disease was the result of witchcraft against cheating Ugandan businessmen who had defaulted on paying for goods procured from Tanzania. At that time the local medical profession would not commit themselves about the cause or nature of the disease, and the WHO was also silent on the matter. Local people casually referred to the unidentified disease as "Slim", alluding to the rapid loss of weight its victims suffered. By the time the Uganda government broke silence on the issue around 1983, the disease was rapidly spreading to cover the entire country. By1990 in some villages people had become used to holding seven or more funerals a day, several times a week. In many areas whole villages were wiped out leaving several children to the care of elderly grandparents, or in other cases to themselves. Not a single family in the diocese has been spared. The effect has been horrendous. Needless to say victims have been mainly men and women in their youthful years, and sadly, young boys and girls too.
Traditionally the extended family system used to work effectively to take care of orphaned children. But the sheer magnitude of the problem, the speed at which parents have been dying off, overwhelmed the traditional way of coping with such calamities. The system thus started failing and kids were abandoned to care for themselves. Thus it is common to find a family headed by a twelve year old. Because of lack of care and proper upbringing and guidance, many such children have already fallen victim to the disease, and followed the parents. Very sad.
These surviving orphans have paused the biggest moral issue to the church in these times. There is the problem of care - providing for the material needs of these children, catering for their education, offering love in the void of hopelessness these kids find themselves in. Then there is the question of spiritual nurture to ensure not only proper moral upbringing but also to safeguard them from falling prey to the disease. And all this to be done outside a normal family atmosphere - it is not the easiest of challenges. Another effect of the disease has been the impact on the local economy. The disease has claimed mainly young, vigorous lives. Consequently economic activity has been badly hit, and economic growth badly retarded, reducing revenues to the church and the state. Many surviving members of the community are ailing, also victims to the disease and expecting to die soon. Drugs we hear that may delay the onset of death are prohibitively expensive.
In this general atmosphere of hopelessness, the Holy Spirit speaks. He says there may still be hope provided someone stands up to tell the people to change their way of life and turn back to God. The Spirit says all is not lost if people will turn away from immoral ways of living and do the will of God. The answer does not lie in the use of simple gimmicks like condoms. Indeed condom use has only fuelled loose living and prolonged the rate of fresh infections.
To carry this message across to the people requires plenty of resources, manpower and commitment. There is urgent need to stop healthy uninfected young people from catching the disease. Again hope must be given to those already infected that there is forgiveness from God provided they agree to change their ways of living. In fact God has the power to restore normal life to an AIDS/HIV victim if they will pray, repent and trust in Him. And in any case if one has to die it is far better to go in full knowledge that one has won divine pardon here on earth, rather than risk the uncertainties of final judgement.
The church in West Buganda has the vision and will for the kind of massive evangelical mission necessary to influence behavioral change in society. What we lack are resources and manpower to carry out the task . We welcome friends willing to assist. Please come and join us. Perhaps together we can win a soul or two for Jesus. With your support this AIDS storm could subside.
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westbug@africaonline.co.ug.Material Copyright © 2001 Rt. Revd. Dr. Samuel Kefa Semakula Kamya
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