Archdiocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala, has said that if the government and the church does not tackle the problem of poverty, Uganda will not get rid of HIV.
Lwanga said: “The whole world is spending a lot of money and scratching their heads to fight diseases like HIV/Aids, malaria and others but they are forgetting to treat the disease and the causes of poverty.”
Lwanga was on Thursday (22 September 2011) speaking to health journalists at St Mary’s Minor Seminary Ground in Fort Portal town, Kabarole district.
“We talk about diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS and cancer but we forget to treat the disease of poverty,” he said.
He said urban centers are “full of young women selling their bodies because of poverty”. “These people need our help, and as church leaders and government officials we have to solve this problem,” Lwanga added.
His Grace also said unsafe abortion has also increased the mortality rate in the country. He called upon leaders to work hard and be examples to the communities they serve.
President Yoweri Museveni said the church has played an instrumental role in promoting education, health and economic development opportunities.
He added that the hospitals, clinics, primary and secondary schools, technical institutions, universities and charitable organizations, built on the foundation of the church, attest to this.
“These institutions have over the years helped the population to access a vital social service which has improved the standards of living of many Ugandans,” he said.
