Written and interviewed by Diana Shpak, AHF Europe Administrative Services Officer
I met Beatrice for the first time during the Gilead protest in Amsterdam in 2023, which AIDS Healthcare Foundation asked us to organize to protest pharma greed. Beatrice Nabulya, the Testing and Volunteer Lead for AHF U.K., had come from the office in Croydon, one of the most populous boroughs in London, to take part in the protest.
When I met Beatrice, it felt as though I had stumbled upon a story far deeper than I could comprehend. There was something extraordinary about her that I could not fully understand at the time.
In 2024, I had the chance to travel to the AHF office in Croydon to support Beatrice in organizing events for World AIDS Day. Amid all the work we had to do, we found moments to talk about her life. This is the story I was able to capture.
Beatrice was born in Masaka, Uganda, into a family of 12 siblings. Masaka is a town in the Buganda region of Uganda, located west of Lake Victoria and near the Equator. Beatrice is the seventh child in the family—a number she calls her lucky number.
As a new graduate with a postgraduate diploma in education, Beatrice did not go into teaching but instead started working as an area manager for the Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU). She managed the project in Masaka and Rakai districts. This was in the late 1980s, at the beginning of the HIV epidemic. Coincidentally, the epidemic started in Rakai (on the border of Tanzania) and later spread to Masaka and the rest of Uganda. These were the first and most impacted areas of the AIDS epidemic in Uganda.
In her new role, Beatrice witnessed immense loss due to HIV, including among her family and friends. There was no treatment at the time, so FPAU promoted condom use for prevention in addition to family planning. There was immense fear and stigma, as people wasted away and died.
Despite the challenges around her, Beatrice was full of life, energy, and determination.
A few years later, she joined her partner—who had migrated to the U.K.—to start a completely new life.
It was 34 years ago, and London was a very different city from what it is today. Even so, moving to another country and starting from scratch was a huge step for Beatrice. She persevered and succeeded, and today she is the proud mother of four wonderful children, all now adults aged between 23 and 35.
Life in the U.K. came with its own set of challenges. The immigration process was difficult—for a time, Beatrice was not allowed to work despite all the skills and experience she had. Beatrice navigated the flow and pace of the new country, building a life for herself and her children. Meanwhile, the rest of her family remained in Uganda, and she could not travel to see them for 10 years. The most painful part was losing family members and never being able to grieve, including her father, who was her best friend.
One day, Beatrice’s life was turned completely upside-down when she was diagnosed with HIV while still breastfeeding her child, who was already one and a half years old. Reflecting on that moment, she says, “When I received my diagnosis, my first question was: ‘Is my baby positive too? How about my firstborn? Who will look after my children?'”
After all the deaths she had witnessed in Masaka, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would die. She had many questions—countless questions—fears, and uncertainties. The main relief was that her children remained negative.
By chance, she met a woman who was also HIV-positive and a member of a special HIV support community. Surprisingly, this woman’s name was also Beatrice. Was it mere coincidence or perhaps destiny? Beatrice still ponders this question.
This encounter became a turning point in her life. The other Beatrice gave her hope and instilled in her the belief that life could still be meaningful and fulfilling, even with the diagnosis. Her words and support sparked a resilience in Beatrice that helped her move forward with renewed strength and determination. She introduced her to the support group for women living with HIV, Positively Women (https://positivelyuk.org/).
“When I saw these women who were living with HIV, they all looked well, happy, and were getting on with their lives! One of them had been diagnosed for 14 years, and she is a mother. It was like giving me my life back,” said Beatrice. “I guess my life began because I saw these amazing women, and they supported me, they inspired me, and I was motivated to do exactly the same. The HIV journey had been challenging, but in the meantime, it has made me the woman I am. I have become very strong because of that. It has actually made me make decisions in my best interest.”
“At the moment, we have made so much progress medically, and we can actually end HIV. Sadly, we are far from that goal. The biggest barrier is HIV stigma, which is rooted in ignorance! It is heartbreaking when I go out in the community to do education about sexual health and HIV—you still see that people do not have the basic facts. They don’t even want to know. They still keep asking, ‘If I am diagnosed with HIV, am I going to die today?’ I call myself an HIV dinosaur—I have been positive for over 30 years,” explained Beatrice. “We still have a long way to go—sadly, we are not done yet.”
Beatrice works at the AHF office in Croydon, London. She is a warrior of hope, a pillar of strength, and a voice for the voiceless. Living with HIV, she has transformed her personal journey into a mission to fight stigma, spread awareness, and create change. Tirelessly working with communities across London, doing HIV tests—from African networks to local churches—she breaks barriers and inspires conversations about HIV that are often silenced. Her vibrant energy flows into every corner of the Croydon community. She dreams that one day, people will be able to sing, dance, and speak openly to dismantle the shame surrounding HIV, sex, and relationships.
“We all just want to have sex, but we don’t want to talk about it,” said Beatrice.
She envisions a future where all health professionals embrace their HIV patients with understanding and face-to-face care, a future where no one feels alone in their health journey. Dreaming boldly, she advocates for a Mobile Testing Van—a mini clinic on wheels—bringing vital testing services to festivals, events, and beyond. The goal is to send out a loud message that your sexual health matters too—normalizing conversations about sexual health and HIV, and promoting testing, PEP, and PrEP.
“HIV testing and sexual health screening should be as routine as servicing your car—a necessary act of care and safety done once a year. Likewise, we should do a sexual health check-up annually for everyone who is sexually active—more regularly when we have casual contacts or are starting new relationships,” emphasized Beatrice.
Her courage lights the way for countless others, proving that a life with HIV is not only worth living but worth fighting for. She reminds us all that stigma is no match for love, compassion, and the power of community.
Beatrice turned 63 last year, but it is almost impossible to believe—her youthful spirit and radiant appearance make it seem like time has gently paused just for her.
Beatrice continues to work tirelessly, dedicating herself to ending HIV stigma and achieving the global goal of ending AIDS. She raises awareness about HIV and sexual health at every opportunity, bringing everything needed to events—testing supplies, banners, condoms, and marketing materials—doing everything possible to ensure the message is loud and clear. Most importantly, she brings her passion and dedication. “HIV and STI testing and education matter!” she said.
“Oh, my days,” Beatrice often says. “We need to increase people’s knowledge about HIV—they are still very ignorant about the basic facts.”
For Beatrice, her diagnosis once felt like the end, but it turned out to be a powerful new beginning. Through her work, she embodies resilience and hope, inspiring others with her passion and determination.
“If we lose joy, we lose everything,” she said, her radiant smile reflecting her unshakable spirit. “Do your best, keep fighting against HIV, and stay resilient.”
Her words, like her actions, are an example of strength for everyone around her.
Together, we can end HIV stigma and reach the goal of ending global AIDS!
