Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, has shared a deeply personal reflection about her son, Anselm Besigye, revealing the emotional tension between parental instincts, cultural expectations, and unconditional love.
In a heartfelt message shared last night, Byanyima spoke candidly about the criticism Anselm has faced from conservative Ugandans over his appearance and self-expression. Anselm, 26, is the son of Byanyima and veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
Currently a second-year PhD candidate and lecturer at Columbia University in New York, Anselm previously earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and graduated from Harvard University with distinction in Anthropology.
Despite her global reputation as a fierce advocate for equality and human rights, Byanyima admitted that she sometimes finds herself conflicted as a mother raising a child whose identity challenges traditional norms.
“Our son Anselm, in his second year of PhD studies and already teaching, fills me with pride. I admire his brilliance and courage,” she wrote.
“And yes, I sometimes wish he embraced more of my faith, my community, and even cut his hair, so he might appear more ‘normal’ to the conservative Ugandan gaze that raised me.”
Anselm has often been a target of online criticism in Uganda, largely due to his gender-fluid fashion choices, which include skirts, bold jewellery, and long dreadlocks. His appearance has sparked frequent social media debates, with critics questioning his sexuality, upbringing, and family values.
Byanyima acknowledged the discomfort such reactions can cause but emphasized that love requires restraint and trust rather than control.
“Love,” she wrote, “is a practice of letting go and trusting that our children will grow into their light in their own time.”
Her post drew mixed reactions online. While many praised her honesty and support for her son, others urged her to enforce traditional norms. One commenter wrote, “Just act as an African parent, grab the guy and cut the hair, you shall have a different discussion later,” to which Byanyima firmly responded, “No, I won’t.”
Anselm spent much of his childhood outside Uganda after his parents took him abroad at the age of three, a decision Byanyima has previously said was meant to shield him from trauma linked to Dr Besigye’s political struggles.
He occasionally shares glimpses of his personal life on social media, including photos with his girlfriend Liz, reflecting a family environment grounded in acceptance and support.
Byanyima’s message has reignited conversations about parenting, culture, and self-expression in Uganda, highlighting the quiet struggles many families face as traditional values meet changing identities in a globalized world.
