By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, recently hosted UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, the wife of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, in Nairobi, where they discussed Kenya’s crucial role in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Byanyima expressed her gratitude to the Kenyan government for agreeing to host the 55th UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board Meeting, scheduled to take place in Nairobi from December 10-12, 2024.
This meeting marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time in 18 years that the event is held on African soil.
Byanyima praised Kenya’s progress in combating HIV/AIDS, highlighting that 1.4 million Kenyans are living with the disease, with an impressive 1.3 million receiving life-saving Antiretroviral Therapy.
Byanyima described Kenya as a beacon of hope in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, but emphasized the need to sustain efforts to reduce new infections, particularly among young women and girls, and to minimize AIDS-related deaths.
Mudavadi reassured Byanyima of Kenya’s unwavering commitment to supporting UNAIDS’ mission and pledged to raise key issues discussed during the upcoming East Africa Summit.
Mudavadi also reaffirmed Kenya’s dedication to regional and global efforts in fighting the epidemic.
The meeting comes at a critical time, as Byanyima’s husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Uganda’s opposition leader, was recently abducted in Kenya and taken back to Uganda, where he is facing various charges, including unlawful possession of guns.
