ACET Uganda, founded in 1990, is one of the oldest and largest ACET programmes tackling HIV and AIDS.  Uganda has seen dramatic falls in the number of new infections and is often held up as an example of what can be achieved with a continuing concerted effort throughout the country.  ACET Uganda has been at the centre of this effort and is now frequently called on to offer support and advice to other projects throughout Africa.

Led by David Kabiswa, ACET Uganda has a number of projects including orphan care and education, particularly in the war torn north of Uganda around Kitgum, together with education programmes in the men's drinking clubs and amongst the 'boda boda' motorcycle taxi drivers in the cities.

Supported by the Friends of ACET Uganda in the UK, a school has been built at Nakulabye, one of the poorer areas of Kampala.

You can find out more about Friends of ACET Uganda from their web site www.acet-international.org/fau and you can also visit the ACET Uganda web site at /www.acetug.org

Patrick Dixon, ACET's founder, reflects here on his recent visit to northern Uganda

Bouncing along a dusty road, the driver swerves wildly to avoid huge potholes which could break the axle of our van.  We have been on the road for six hours from Kampala to Northern Uganda, where tens of thousands of people are living in camps because of fear.

Armed groups threaten villagers at night, stealing goats, cows, grain – and sometimes kidnapping children.  Once in the bush these children are beaten, drugged and trained to kill.  They are then forced back to their own villages to shoot members of their own families.  After that they are fully initiated into the militia, lost perhaps forever into the jungle.

Despite peace agreements, at least half the displaced villagers have stayed in densely packed camps, where they feel safer at night.

In early morning you can watch them walking miles across dusty tracks to reach their own land, carrying water containers and tools. And at night, they return hot, tired and dusty.

Many children have lost parents – either in the conflict, or from AIDS, or other diseases, or in childbirth.  In the crowded camps there are always crowds of other children to play with, but they are vulnerable to being abused by other adults.  Supervision is harder than in their own villages.  Social customs are disrupted, schools have taken time to build.    There is pressure on water supplies, sanitation and medical facilities.  Family relationships can easily break down.  Men and women can easily form new relationships.  HIV can easily spread.

In the camps, ACET Uganda has been working since 1993, providing health education, lifeskills discussions with young people, and helping support those with HIV.  The teams run children’s clubs, income support groups for infected women and a range of other vitally needed services.