In the quiet village of Naluwoli, Kamuli District, a powerful transformation is quietly unfolding — led not by politicians or aid workers, but by young people living with HIV who refuse to let their diagnosis define them.
At the heart of this movement is 24-year-old Yonah Namayo, the chairperson of the Kamuli Network of Young People Living with HIV, whose life story is one of resilience, hope, and empowerment.
“I found out I was HIV positive after my parents died,” Yonah recalls. “I was taking medication, but I didn’t understand why until my aunt explained it to me.”
Orphaned and living with stigma, Yonah’s early life was marked by uncertainty. Yet, he has turned these challenges into a platform for change, leading a group of 25 young people, many of them peer supporters, under a Ministry of Health and UNICEF-supported initiative within the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme.
The 2gether 4 SRHR Programme, funded by Sweden and implemented jointly by UNAIDS, UNFPA, WHO, and UNICEF, empowers young people in Eastern and Southern Africa to access sexual and reproductive health services and lead productive lives.
In Kamuli, the programme supports young HIV-positive people through training, stipends, mentorship, and economic opportunities.
“We were taking our medication, but some of our peers were dying,” Yonah says. “So, we decided to form a support group. At first, it was like a small savings club — a SACCO.”
That small step grew into a fully registered association in 2022, with a poultry project at its core. Today, they manage 400 birds, selling chicks and broilers to local farmers from a rented site in Butansi Sub-County.
“We rear the chickens for four weeks and aim to sell them by the sixth week,” Yonah explains. “Anything beyond that eats into our profits.”
The enterprise has given the members more than income; it has restored dignity. Yonah, who once rented, saved UGX 2 million (US$546) to buy land and build a house. He now owns a mobile money business and a kiosk run by his wife.
“This work shows young people that living with HIV does not mean you cannot succeed,” he says with pride.
Beyond the business, Yonah and his team provide peer-to-peer counselling, visiting other young people struggling to adhere to treatment.
Thanks to their outreach, viral suppression rates in the district have improved dramatically:
“When we started, about 10 out of 80 young people were not adhering to treatment. Now, it’s just one,” Yonah notes.
Running the programme has not been without obstacles. Some peers dropped out after receiving stipends, distracted by financial temptations or struggling with long travel distances and emotional fatigue.
“Weekly check-ins from mentors and supervisors, along with a sense of community, keep the group strong,” says Aisha Abenakyo, a midwife and YAPS mentor.
She adds, “Initially, adolescents feared to reveal their HIV status. Today, they give health talks with confidence and have overcome low self-esteem.”
Yonah’s dream is to expand the programme to all 22 sub-counties in Kamuli, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact.
“Other young people see the benefits and want to join. It’s helping us live with dignity,” he says.
Yonah’s story is a testament to the power of youth-led solutions, supported by strategic partners like UNICEF. Through solidarity, knowledge, and perseverance, young people like Yonah are not just surviving — they are leading, thriving, and inspiring their communities.
