From Addiction to Empowerment

At 24 years old, Daphine Namukasa lived in Kawempe, a division of Kampala district. Her parents’ separation and financial struggles led her to abuse alcohol and drugs, as well as engage in high-risk sexual activities with multiple partners. She dropped out of school and felt depressed, often contemplating ending her life.

But in October 2021, the DREAMS programme was introduced in her village. She found mentors who listened without judgement and encouraged her to take an HIV test. Despite her fears from her past behaviours, she opted for an HIV self-test and was relieved to find out it was negative. As she reflected on this pivotal moment, Namukasa said, “DREAMS gave me hope to live to see another day.”

Through the DREAMS programme, Namukasa attended sessions on self-love and empowerment, safer sex practices, STI prevention, family planning, financial literacy, and VSLA (village savings and loans association). She became passionate about the programme and started helping out with various activities. Thanks to her determination and hard work, she was selected as a peer leader and received training in computer studies and secretarial skills. She also became a paid volunteer as a data entrant for the programme.

With the financial knowledge she gained from DREAMS, Namukasa started saving money each week to pursue her dream of going back to school. In October 2022, she enrolled at Makerere University to study Social Sciences while continuing to work for the DREAMS programme. In March 2024, she received education support from the programme to cover her final year of university education. Reflecting on her transformation, Namukasa expressed, “Through DREAMS, I learned that my past does not define my future.”

Namukasa’s ultimate goal is to become a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer for big organisations like IDI and CDC. With her degree in hand, she is confident that she will achieve this dream. She thanks the DREAMS Programme for giving her life purpose and redefining her journey into something positive: “I am proud to be associated with the DREAMS Program. I am a DREAMS girl.” Today, she also counsels and links her peers to HIV prevention services through the programme, demonstrating her commitment to empowering others in her community.