Our Work
Our work: a community-led HIV response for Uganda
what we do
Our work: a community-led HIV response for Uganda.
Our 2026 to 2030/31 plan rests on four priorities. They came out of consultations with more than 175 people, including network leaders, young people living with HIV,women with disabilities, key population groups, health workers and government partners.
Strong networks get more done, and get heard more often. We convene and support 136 district forums, 10 city forums and 18 national networks, along with partner civil society organisations.
- Help networks register, govern themselves well, plan and report on their work.
- Work to secure office space for district networks and a national coordination centre,the "Home of Hope".
- Bring in funding from more sources, so our networks depend less on a single donor.
- Push for more public money for health. Uganda's health budget share is 8% and we areccalling for 15%, along with a working National Health Insurance Scheme and social contracting, where government pays community groups to deliver services.
HIV services are now delivered through general out patient departments. That has cut some stigma, but we are hearing from clinicians that many people collect treatment once and do not return for refills. Peer support fills that gap.
- Run and support peer-led psychosocial support, treatment literacy and client navigation.
- Carry out stigma reduction and "Know Your Rights" campaigns in health facilities, schools, work places and communities.
- Build mental health support into HIV programmes, including helplines and support groups.
- Prepare networks to keep services going during outbreaks, climate shocks and other emergencies.
Poverty and treatment do not mix. Uganda’s poverty rate is 41.7%, and more than half of households affected by HIV and TB face catastrophic health costs. A missed meal or a lost income can turn into a missed clinic visit.
- Grow the NAFOPHANU PLHIV SACCO, launched in 2023 with a seed grant from UNAIDS, and help networks form branches.
- Support village savings and loan groups, apprenticeships and start-up kits.
- Plan a PLHIV Leadership, Training and Consultancy Academy and a PLHIV Wellness and Leadership Support Centre.
- Build mentorship and livelihood support for adolescent girls, young women and young people living with HIV.
- Push for people living with HIV to be included in the Parish Development Model andother government programmes.
If nobody records what is working,nobody can argue for it. We are building simple digital tools that let networks report on service gaps, stock-outs and stigma in real time, and turn that information into advocacy.
- Roll out digital tools for community-led monitoring and data collection.
- Train network members in data use and digital skills.
- Work with radio, TV and social media to raise PLHIV voices, especially young leaders.
- Publish policy briefs, reports and newsletters, and document what works.
- Support networks to report into national, regional and global processes.