HIV/AIDS treatment will remain accessible to all, says Aceng

The minister who revealed this in a telephone interview with this reporter said the government will not backtrack on the achievements made in HIV treatment, care, and prevention.

"The Government of Uganda will ensure that prevention programmes for HIV epidemic control remain accessible to those that need them in a non-discriminatory manner, observing principles of confidentiality and equity. The government will not backtrack on the achievements made in HIV treatment, care, and prevention," she said.

She added, "Our previous efforts brought down new HIV infections from 100,000 in 2015 to 17,000 in 2022. Similarly, HIV prevalence has declined from 18% to 5.5% now. With 1.3 million people on treatment out of the estimated 1.43 million PLHIV, the country is on course for HIV epidemic control. Uganda remains committed to ending AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030."

The Minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of concerns from world HIV/AIDS-designated organisations such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Global Fund, and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

The organisations say that the new law will gravely affect the health of Ugandan citizens living with the virus, especially those who are gay and HIV-positive, since it will make it hard for them to access treatment.

On Monday, May 29, 2023, President Museveni assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023, that was passed by Parliament early this year.

This was revealed by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, that same day on her official Twitter handle.

"His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has executed his constitutional mandate as prescribed by Article 91 (3) (a) of the Constitution. He has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Act," she twitted.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023, which was passed by Parliament on March 21, seeks to prohibit same-sex sexual relations.

The President earlier sent it back to Parliament with suggestions for amendments (five clauses).

The parliamentary committee on legal and parliamentary affairs reviewed the concerns and proposals made by the President regarding distinguishing between being a homosexual and actually engaging in acts of homosexuality.