The Framework for Dialogue process was initiated in Uganda in September 2013, with a first face-to-face dialogue meeting taking place in December 2013.
National Working Group
The working group included the National Forum of PLHIV Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU), National Community of Women Living with HIV (NACWOLA), Uganda Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected with HIV/AIDS (UNERELA+), Uganda Christian AIDS Network (UCAN), Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), ICCO Cooperation and the UNAIDS country office.
Initial Face-To-Face Dialogue Meeting
The meeting was attended by 30 participants including the Bishop of the National fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches, Bishop Joshua Lwere. During the meeting, the participants agreed to focus on critical “sticky” issues and 7 areas were identified as priorities for dialogue and joint action. These include condom-use in marriage; SRHR education in churches and mosques; stigma of people living with HIV; meaningful involvement of PLHIV in faith-based HIV responses; discordance in marriage; faith healing and treatment; sustainability of faith-based HIV response. An official report on the meeting is available.
Ongoing Collaboration and Dialogue
The working group is regularly meeting and has developed an action plan to continue joint dialogue and action on these issues starting with a baseline study on stigma within the religious context that will constitute the evidence basis for a second dialogue in November 2014.
