Search
  1. Home
  2. East Africa
  3. Uganda
  • News

Cold reception for HIV beauty contest

    JOHANNESBURG
    A beauty pageant aimed at increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and countering stigma in Uganda has received a cold reception from the government. The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) halted the 'Miss HIV' contest, set to take place in the capital Kampala at the weekend, saying there were other ways of fostering acceptance of people living with HIV/AIDS. UAC director-general Kihumuro Apuuli declared in the local New Vision newspaper: "We must desist from the notion of copying ideas from other countries, such as Botswana, where such competitions are being held." Botswana, which has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, has been hosting the pageant since 2003, sponsored by the UN and Barclays Bank, among others.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

    Share this article

    Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

    We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

    Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

    Become a member of The New Humanitarian

    Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

    Join