Poverty remains a key driver of HIV in Uganda. This coupled with other structural divers like gender-based violence and social cultural norms significantly predispose women to HIV. The situation is visibly worse among adolescent girls and young women aged 10 to 24 who are about 3 times more at risk than their counterparts’ males of the same age.
Rebecca Nalukwago 21 years lost her father at a tender age of seven years, the sole family breadwinner and was left to live with her mother. This fate led to her childhood being characterized by ill health and interrupted education.
Growing up in the rural areas of Mityana district, over fifty kilometers from Kampala, 20 year Victoria aspired to be a lawyer- a profession she would use to protect children and other vulnerable people in her community. At the age of four, victoria’s parents encouraged to pursue her dream.
Her dream profession was shattered when her parent’s income changed. She dropped out of school and was left to fend for her life as young girl. “We went on for days without meals and basic necessities. We lived a miserable and appalling life,” narrates Victoria.