Clerics push for root-cause approach to ending AIDS by 2030
By Nalule Sarah
Faith-based leaders in Uganda have called for a shift in the country’s HIV response, urging government and health actors to confront the root social, moral, and economic drivers of the epidemic rather than relying mainly on scientific and biomedical interventions.
The call was made during a high-level meeting of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) leadership and Uganda Aids Commission held at Old Kampala on Tuesday, as the country enters the final stretch toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Team Leader for Public Health at the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Charles Sserwanja, said faith-based leaders are increasingly concerned that while science has helped save lives, it has also contributed to complacency, particularly among young people.
“As religious faith-based leaders, we are asking the government to focus on the root causes of AIDS instead of focusing on science only. We need to ask ourselves why the numbers are still increasing and why we continue to register new infections, especially among young people,” he added.
Sserwanja warned that the growing perception of HIV as a manageable condition has weakened prevention messaging and personal responsibility.
“Today, people think HIV is just like any other disease. That mindset has reduced the intensity of our messaging and our moral responsibility as a society,” he said.
He stressed that HIV cannot be addressed in isolation from poverty, unemployment, broken families, and risky social behaviour, urging institutions to design interventions that address livelihoods alongside prevention.
“As faith institutions, we need to design interventions and also ensure people have food on the table. You cannot talk about prevention when someone is struggling to survive, that’s why we have you girls involved in prostitution,” Sserwanja said.
Root causes
He revealed that issues like poverty, domestic violence, lack of sensitisation and misuse of the social media by the youth are the main root cause of the increasing new cases of HIV in the country.
“Due to poverty, it has forced young people to get involved into prostitution thus getting infected with HIV AIDS and this has contributed to the number of new infections in the country” he said
Sserwanja further called for the collection and use of faith-disaggregated HIV data to help religious communities understand their specific vulnerabilities and take ownership of the response.
“I urge the management of UMSC and other faith institutions to push for faith-based, denominational data so our communities can wake up and take joint action,” he said.
He proposed that places of worship be repositioned as centres of spiritual, moral, and social transformation.
“Let places of worship become centres of spiritual and social information. We should dedicate time to structured discussions on how we can fight HIV from faith-based communities,” he said.
The 2024 UAC report indicated that:
Prevalence of HIV -1,500,000
- Women – 930,000
- Men – 570,000
- Children – 71,000
Annual New Infections – 37,000
- Women – 21,000
- Men – 11,000
- Children – 4,700
The Director for Partnerships at the Uganda AIDS Commission, Tom Otis, said while science remains critical, it must be complemented by strong value-based leadership.
“We have focused so much on the symptoms and the science, yet HIV and AIDS cannot be addressed in isolation. If we are to create a dent in the HIV response, we must change the way we do business. Without addressing root causes, science alone will not take us where we want to go,” he added.
Responding to the concerns, the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje reaffirmed the commitment of Muslim leadership to play a central role in the national HIV response through faith, compassion, and interfaith collaboration.
“As we enter the final mile towards ending AIDS as a public health threat, the leadership of UMSC carries a heavy responsibility to reach Muslim congregations with accurate, compassionate, and faith-consistent messages on HIV prevention, care, and treatment,” Mubajje said.
He emphasised that Islamic values of compassion (Rahma), kindness, and moral responsibility must guide engagement with people living with HIV, without stigma or discrimination.
“Our faith calls upon us to uphold compassion and responsibility in our engagement with individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS,” he said.
He welcomed the development of information, education, and communication materials tailored for Muslim communities, saying they will empower Imams, Sheikhs, and community leaders to deliver consistent, action-oriented messages aimed at building an AIDS-free generation.
