It was an afternoon of mixed feelings on Sunday 17th at Namirembe Hillside as a crowd of over 1,000 students gathered to listen to inspirational words that came from their role models Phiona Bizzu.
Miss Uganda 2012-13 Ms Phiona Bizzu attended the event in company of her first runner up Josephine Nabakooza, Ray signature and the Kaleke Kasome hit maker Maurice Hassa.
Among the speakers of the day was a lady who preferred unanimity who firmly disclosed her status sharing memorable and terrible experience she had. She was raped at the age of 10 and infected with HIV living with the virus for over 15 years now.
She said that despite it being a deadly and incurable disease, this has not stopped her from living towards her dreams and realizing most of them. When she realized that she was sick, she started on her ARVs periodically and this has made her even healthier that virus free people.
“How many of you can believe that I have HIV when you look at me “she asked. Everybody was left speechless and a moment of silence took over the vicinity as nobody could expect this. She was looking attractive to the eyes of many.
It was now a moment to steer up the moods of many that were slowly but steady going down as many got scared and tears could be seen forming and rolling down their cheeks especially soft hearted girls. Ray signature ascended amidst a silent congregation and sang some of his wonderful songs, kasenyanku and the latest with Mun G and there was a change in the mood of the students. Smiles grew on their faces, others stood up and shook their bodies followed by the 2013 “dance heaven” champion dancers chukka gospel outreach dancers. As if it was earlier on planned for a fluctuating mood to prevail, it was yet another tear filled experience as kaleke kasome star Maurice Hassa came to perform for the students. As a matter of fact, it took me by surprise too and I found myself almost dropping a tear. Oh gosh, his songs were so touching and sorrowful.
Students cried, Miss Uganda wiped her tears together with her runner up as they hid their faces when he sang kaleke kasome and another song that depicts of a girl who was raped and later on killed. It sounded more like a prayer. This however didn’t stop the stubborn students to chip in with their jokes and this was noticed with one Mulumba Jonathan, a student in form 5 who was asked what he would do when he found out he was HIV positive. From a crowd he came and rubbed everybody’s ribs saying he would buy a rope and end his ‘miserable life before it makes his adorable body miserable’.
This gave the confession lady a point to prove to the students that there is life after HIV. One can still go on and realize his dreams despite having HIV and she called upon those who could be sick to fight stigma and properly take their medication in order to live a good life.
Among other guest on this event were the CEO Kampala International Hospital and mayor Makindye division Dr. Ian Clarke and his wife who also canceled and encouraged students to focus on their studies first.