Jamie Hitchen

In the early 1980’s Uganda had an extremely high rate of HIV and AIDS infection that was a serious social problem. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, has been applauded for his pro-active approach to HIV and AIDS and for being a leader in Africa on prevention methods.

Lira Town, situated some 350km from Kampala to the north, is an area deeply affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict that wrecked Uganda from 1986 until the Juba talks (2006-2008), marking the beginning of the end for Joseph Kony and the rebels in Uganda.

October 9 marked the fiftieth anniversary of Ugandan independence from British colonial rule. Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM), in power since 1986, celebrated the day’s events at the official event in the district of Kololo in the capital Kampala.