By: Barigye Ambrose

Today, several members of Come Out Post Test Club (COPTEC) gathered for a community meeting aimed at enhancing their knowledge about HIV/ AIDS and human rights. The event attracted 55 members of the LGBTI and sex workers’ communities’ who were treated to a HIV testing and counseling session.

“I think the workshop was worth the time spent and the resources invested because people turned up in large numbers.  Expectations were met and I am glad that participants were able to learn new things about HIV/AIDS and its prevention as well as get good security tips,” Babu Ramadan a community peer educator and participant said of the meeting.

Kuchu Times also talked to the workshop coordinators Bad Black and Joseph Kaweesi about COPTEC as an organization and what they hope to achieve from the community meeting.

“As the founder and Director of COPTEC, my hope is  for an HIV free LGBTI community and I  will continue working  hard to see that those already infected get proper medication and care   and those that are still negative continue practicing safer sex  to prevent new infections,” Joseph Kaweesi said.

Kaweesi shares a vision with the organization he started- to have an HIV free trans and sex worker community. And he is not the only one, most of the people he has surrounded himself with to assist with the day to day runnings of the organization share his sentiments and vision.

“This project is targeting transgender women in Uganda and addresses community mobilization and awareness.  We basically aim at a zero-AIDS transgender community,” COPTEC’s Executive Secretary Bad Black says of the initiative.

COPTEC runs on a vision- Creating and promoting a community that supports and cares for those who are HIV positive and enabling them to live the best life possible. It is also a community that is informed enough to prevent and protect itself from HIV/AIDS related illnesses that may lead to death.