Policy Convergence in US and Uganda HIV Prevention: Born-Again Christians as Intermediaries

In the early 2000s, Uganda and the United States reached a similar conservative shift in their HIV policy: born-again Christians assumed powerful positions in policy making and implementation in both countries, abstinence became a main pillar of HIV prevention, and condom promotion was shut down. This article questions the convergence of the two policies and addresses the role of evangelical Christians as transnational intermediaries. It shows concretely how multi-positioned actors, entrenched in transnational networks, have worked for this convergence. Ugandan Christians have especially worked to import and adapt US action to the field and policy-making arena. The convergence is finally closely linked with Christians’ strong will to change the balance of power within the field of HIV and the political arena.