The Interview Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids: I am somebody who fights for social justice and gender equality
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Mar 31, 2026 Winnie Byanyima, Director of UNAIDS and veteran social justice and gender equality activist from Uganda, speaks candidly. She discusses her husband’s detention and the erosion of democracy in Uganda. She examines cuts to HIV funding, threats to rights-based health work, and the need for multilateral reform led by the Global South.
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Husband Detained After Alleged Abduction And Military Trial
- Kizza Besigye has been detained in poor conditions and solitary confinement for over a year and four months.
- Winnie Byanyima describes his abduction from Kenya, military detention, denial of bail and what she calls fabricated evidence against him.
Revolutionaries Left As Government Turns To Family Rule
- Winnie Byanyima says many original revolutionaries have walked away because Museveni abandoned the movement's mission.
- She characterises current governance as family rule, with insiders benefiting financially while democracy and human rights regress.
US Funding Pause Triggered HIV Service Collapse Then Conditional Restoration
- US suspension of foreign assistance caused clinic closures and service disruptions in HIV responses across sub-Saharan Africa.
- The US quickly restored funding and launched a five-year strategy, but now conditions push recipient countries toward domestic financing.