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Mayiga challenges Men to lead HIV fight, as he lunches 11th Kabaka Birthday run
Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga (Centre), the Katikkiro of Buganda, Airtel Uganda Managing Director, Manoj Murali (3rd L), 2nd Deputy. Katikkiro Owek. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa (2nd L) and other officials from Airtel Uganda and Buganda Kingdom during a photo moment at the launch of the 11th Edition of the Kabaka Birthday Run which is slated for 7th April 2024.
The Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom, Charles Peter Mayiga has rallied all the subjects of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II to prioritize personal health living if they are to attain the vision of restoring the kingdom’s glory.
Mayiga said that having a healthy population is the major factor for attaining the vision of ensuring social and economic transformation for the people in the kingdom and for Uganda.
Launching the 11th edition of the Kabaka’s Birthday Run under the theme Ending HIV and AIDS by the year 2030, Mayiga said the health of an ordinary person is key in everything the Kingdom pursues since it is the ordinary person that contributes significantly to the growth of any country.
“Our vision is to bring about social and economic transformation for the people in the kingdom and for Uganda. We want our people to have a happy and decent livelihood, but the major factor that is going to determine social and economic transformation is health, especially that of the ordinary person because it is the ordinary person that contributes significantly to the growth of any country”-Mayiga noted.
He noted that the annual Kabaka’s Birthday Run should be a reminder to the people of Buganda, especially the men, to avoid reckless acts that lead to the spreading of HIV and AIDS among the young people.
“the purpose of this fight us to realize our objectives and goals, that will not be possible if we contract HIV/AIDS and you all know especially on the African Continent that it is the men who initiates the activities that lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS, we know we are living in modern times even women can approach us(men) but by and large if the men take care to save their daughters, their sisters, their mothers, their aunties, if the men are in the lead to fight against HIV/AIDS we can eradicate it by 2030”-Mayiga stressed.
He said for that matter, the Kingdom joins the efforts of the international community, UN AIDS, Uganda AIDS Commission, and all people involved in promoting our health in the fight against HIV AIDS. Adding that we should all be happy because the Kabaka is a good ambassador for the African continent.
He also recognized Airtel’s positive contribution towards the 11th edition of the Kabaka Birthday Run which has become one of the most successful marathons held in the country and a dear event to the people of Buganda.
Assuring the Kingdom of Airtel’s continued commitment towards the Kabaka’s Birthday run, Manoj Murali, the Airtel managing Director challenged Ugandans to join in on the marathon for the betterment of our communities.
“This year, as we lace up for the Kabaka Birthday Run, let’s run for a cause close to our hearts: ending HIV/AIDS. Together, let’s channel the spirit of community and run in solidarity with those affected by this global epidemic. Proceeds from the run will directly support the fight against HIV/AIDS, aligning with the theme “Ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.”-Murali Manoj
Manoj adds that this theme embodies our collective vision of a world free from HIV/AIDS and serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness, mobilize resources, and champion action towards achieving this goal.”
Meanwhile according to Sarah Nakku, the Country Community Mobilisation and Networking Adviser at UNAIDS, the HIV/AIDS prevalence has drastically dropped in the Buganda region which is attributed to such initiatives spearheaded by cultural leaders like the Kabaka of Buganda
“As UNAIDS we are impressed with the decline in prevalence and we are impressed with decline in incidences due to HIV (Incidences means new catchments while prevalence refers to those living with HIV) now the time we started negotiations of partnering with the kingdom, that was around 2015, Central 1 and 2 which is Buganda Region had 8 districts among the first 10 districts that had the highest HIV/AIDs infections as we speak now Buganda region has only 3 districts among the first 10 Districts”-Nakku.
She says that whereas, this is a remarkable drop, Buganda Region still has some work to do especially in the three districts of Kyotera, Masaka, Kalangala.
The highly anticipated Kabaka Birthday Run to celebrate Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s 69th Birthday slated for 7th April 2024 is expected to attract 110, 000 runners.
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