Canon Gideon Byamugisha visits Llandenny
The worshipping community at St John’s, Llandenny, were again thrilled to welcome Canon Gideon Byamugisha for a flying visit while he was in the UK. Parishioners have known Gideon for eighteen years and have a special relationship with him, his family and community in Uganda.
Gideon was the first practising religious leader in Africa to break the silence, the negative fear and stigma associated with HIV and AIDS, by declaring publicly that he was living with the infection way back in 1992.
He works tirelessly in Uganda and widely across Africa and other parts of the world to accelerate the defeat of HIV and AIDS related discrimination, and to promote access to treatment, counselling, safe practices and the empowerment of children, young people, men and women. He lectures at the University in Kampala with social science students.
Llandenny Church has supported his daughter Patience throughout her education. She now has one more year left before she goes to university. The congregation also supports Gideon’s ‘The Hope Institute’, a sponsorship and training centre for orphans and other vulnerable children. It aims to equip young people with skills which will enable them to find a job and therefore contribute to their society.
Sue Russell