Born in Africa by Andrew Ssempala Ssengendo

Born in Africa: The Story of Philly Bongoley Lutaaya is a definitive 2022 biography written by Ugandan journalist Andrew Ssempala Ssengendo. It chronicles the extraordinary life, musical genius, and historical public health legacy of Philly Bongoley Lutaaya, one of Uganda’s most celebrated icons. The book heavily focuses on Lutaaya’s unparalleled bravery in April 1989, when he became the first prominent African figure to publicly declare he was living with HIV/AIDS. At a time when the disease was met with extreme stigma, fear, and social ostracization, his declaration gave a human face to the epidemic and fundamentally shifted the trajectory of public health advocacy in Uganda and across Africa.