Our Patron
Rev Canon Prof Gideon Baguma Byamugisha
INERELA+ Chaplain & Patron;
Rev Canon Gideon Byamugisha is a native of Uganda and Anglican Reverend Canon, visiting scholar and Professor in various Universities who was elected as the INERELA+ Co – Patron and Chaplain on 17 June 2021. Canon Gideon is a well-respected and an internationally acclaimed promoter of types of theological thinking and ethical reflection, spiritual capital development and pastoral care modelling that can help faith communities to
- Tackle AIDS related stigma and discrimination more religiously
- Protect and defend people’s rights to HIV health better
- Contribute to ending AIDS faster.
Byamugisha is respected as a credible voice in decision making who leads mainly by example, always doing his best and encouraging others to do the same. He accepted Jesus as his personal saviour, friend and master in 1976 and went on to make global history in January 1992 by becoming the first religious leader in Africa to publicly announce that he was HIV positive.
Besides being a pioneer of an HIV positive theological ethics of mission and ministry that helped immensely in the global, national and local community efforts he has had a long and distinguished career in :
- Reducing and eventually eliminate the six related evils of stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, inaction and mis-action (SSDDIM) ;
- Multiplying
(i) Safe behaviors, actions and practices
(ii) Access and adherence to affordable and good quality care, medical treatment and nutrition.
(iii) Voluntary, routine and stigma-sensitive counseling and testing
(iv) Empowerment of the most at risk children, adolescents and youths, the most vulnerable families, communities and community groups, the most AIDS challenged countries and regions and the most AIDS oppressed countries of our common globe (SAVE) ;
- Upholding the human dignity and human rights of people, families and communities living with, most vulnerable to and most impacted by both HIV and its socio-economic drivers, cultural-religious-theological facilitators and politico-legislative sustainers
Rev Canon Gideon Byamugisha is a native of Uganda and Anglican Reverend Canon, visiting scholar and Professor in various Universities who was elected as the INERELA+ Co – Patron and Chaplain on 17 June 2021. Canon Gideon is a well-respected and an internationally acclaimed promoter of types of theological thinking and ethical reflection, spiritual capital development and pastoral care modelling that can help faith communities to
- Tackle AIDS related stigma and discrimination more religiously
- Protect and defend people’s rights to HIV health better
- Contribute to ending AIDS faster.
- Byamugisha is respected as a credible voice in decision making who leads mainly by example, always doing his best and encouraging others to do the same. He accepted Jesus as his personal saviour, friend and master in 1976 and went on to make global history in January 1992 by becoming the first religious leader in Africa to publicly announce that he was HIV positive.
Besides being a pioneer of an HIV positive theological ethics of mission and ministry that helped immensely in the global, national and local community efforts he has had a long and distinguished career in :
- Reducing and eventually eliminate the six related evils of stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, inaction and mis-action (SSDDIM) ;
- Multiplying
(i) Safe behaviors, actions and practices
(ii) Access and adherence to affordable and good quality care, medical treatment and nutrition.
(iii) Voluntary, routine and stigma-sensitive counseling and testing
(iv) Empowerment of the most at risk children, adolescents and youths, the most vulnerable families, communities and community groups, the most AIDS challenged countries and regions and the most AIDS oppressed countries of our common globe (SAVE) ;
- Upholding the human dignity and human rights of people, families and communities living with, most vulnerable to and most impacted by both HIV and its socio-economic drivers, cultural-religious-theological facilitators and politico-legislative sustainers
While easy going by nature he has strong theological convictions on the need for a spirited spiritual resistance to preventable diseases, disasters, controllable distresses, corruptions and deaths; Byamugisha is recognized for working with his friends and family members, faith community leaders, congregations, supportive development partners and individual people living with HIV to establish the Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation (FOCAGIFO)- a self-help organization and not for profit ministry that helped him to initiate/conceive/found , among others, The Africa Network of Religious Leaders Living With and/ or Personally Affected by HIV (ANERELA+ 2002) –now International Network of Religious Leaders Living With and or Personally Affected by HIV (INERELA+) in 25 countries with 14,278 members
Down to earth and respected Byamugisha is a natural communicator, wonderful and warm Speaker who has been awarded numerous awards and among them are:
- The 2018 Straight Talk Foundation Board Appreciation Award.
- The 2017 UGANET Appreciation Award & Endorsement and selection as the National Convener –CSO/PHA/Faith & Cultural Sector Champions of Long-term Hope Contributing to the Implementation of the Presidential Fast Track Initiative to End AIDS A Public Health Threat by 2030;
- The 2010 Appointment as Scholar-In-Residence at The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education (Birmingham, UK) & Honorary Award of Doctor of Divinity (University of Botswana) ;
- The 2008 Distinguished & Exemplary Leadership Award (Parliament of Uganda)
- The 2007 Friends of Africa Award of Commitment (Friends of the Global Fund)
- The 2006 appointment as Goodwill Ambassador on HIV & AIDS (Christian Aid, UK)
- The 2003 Uganda AIDS Commission National HIV Response Award
- The 2002 appointment as Church/FBO Partnerships Advisor (World Vision International)
While easy going by nature he has strong theological convictions on the need for a spirited spiritual resistance to preventable diseases, disasters, controllable distresses, corruptions and deaths; Byamugisha is recognized for working with his friends and family members, faith community leaders, congregations, supportive development partners and individual people living with HIV to establish the Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation (FOCAGIFO)- a self-help organization and not for profit ministry that helped him to initiate/conceive/found , among others, The Africa Network of Religious Leaders Living With and/ or Personally Affected by HIV (ANERELA+ 2002) –now International Network of Religious Leaders Living With and or Personally Affected by HIV (INERELA+) in 25 countries with 14,278 members
Down to earth and respected Byamugisha is a natural communicator, wonderful and warm Speaker who has been awarded numerous awards and among them are:
- The 2018 Straight Talk Foundation Board Appreciation Award.
- The 2017 UGANET Appreciation Award & Endorsement and selection as the National Convener –CSO/PHA/Faith & Cultural Sector Champions of Long-term Hope Contributing to the Implementation of the Presidential Fast Track Initiative to End AIDS A Public Health Threat by 2030;
- The 2010 Appointment as Scholar-In-Residence at The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education (Birmingham, UK) & Honorary Award of Doctor of Divinity (University of Botswana) ;
- The 2008 Distinguished & Exemplary Leadership Award (Parliament of Uganda)
- The 2007 Friends of Africa Award of Commitment (Friends of the Global Fund)
- The 2006 appointment as Goodwill Ambassador on HIV & AIDS (Christian Aid, UK)
- The 2003 Uganda AIDS Commission National HIV Response Award
- The 2002 appointment as Church/FBO Partnerships Advisor (World Vision International)