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Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Thousands of subjects across the Buganda Kingdom have participated in the run to mark the momentous 69th birthday of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi 11.
At Lubiri, Mengo the thousands of the runners were flagged off by Princess Agnes Nnaalinya Nabaloga on behalf of Kabaka Mutebi. The run has been held under the theme ;Men are stars in the fight against HIV/AIDS to save the Girl Child.
While delivering Kabaka Mutebi’s message, Princess Nnaalinya reiterated his call to subjects to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS and advised People Living with the virus to embrace Antiretroviral drugs. Kabaka Mutebi was born on 13th April 1955 and is celebrating 69th birthday this year.
In Bulemeezi County, the runners were flagged off by Rt Rev Lawrence Mukasa the Bishop of Kasana Luwero catholic diocese and Rt Rev. Wilson Kisekka of Luwero Anglican Diocese. The runners set from Kaludo Complex and others at Luwero Diocese Anglican offices all located in Luwero town.
The Bishops thanked the Kabaka for the campaign and the runners for participation.Bishop Kisekka said the church embraced the Kabaka birthday run because they also wanted to preach among healthy Christians and it was a significant cause.
Kisekka asked the married Christians to be faithful to each other and the unmarried to abstain if the disease was to be eradicated in the Country.
Quoting a Police Crime report which indicated that Luwero registered 99 cases of aggravated defilement in 2024 and ranked the 2nd with the highest cases across the country, Leaders in Luwero asked men to be stars in stopping the trend as well as the spread of the disease.
The Buganda Kingdom representative in Bulemeezi county Ronald Mulondo rallied the men to stop the defilement of girls which is also contributing to the HIV/AIDS scourge in the area.
Gaddafi Nasur, the Chairperson of the National Resistance Movement Youths League said that Kabaka’s campaign was timely and there is a need for all leaders to amplify his message.
Nasur said that Luwero is turning into a hotspot for defilement due to unregulated entertainment activities and rapid urbanization which also contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDs.
Nasur asked local leaders to draw strategies that aimed at fighting defilement and the spread of the disease.
Denis Sekabira, the Katikamu North Member of Parliament said that it was a shame for the district to lead in defilement cases rather than other development indicators.Sekabira said that as leaders they should use all available platforms to fight the defilement cases and other causes of HIV/AIDs.
In Nakaseke, the runners were flagged off by State Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs Minister Kyofatogabye Kabuye who advised residents to embrace government programs that aimed at eradicating poverty if they were to fight economic causes of HIV/AIDS. Kyofatogabye said that some of cases of defilement and HIV/AIDS infections are due to poverty.
In Nakaseke district, the runners set off from Kikamulo sub county and ended the run at Kiwoko primary school playground in Kiwoko town council.
According to the Luwero district health department, there are over 35,021 persons living with HIV in the district.
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