The fight against HIV/AIDS may well get a financial boost following a pledge by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to intervene.
In a meeting with officials from the Uganda Aids Commission
led by Chairperson Dr Eddie Mukoyo on Friday, 7 June 2019, Kadaga said there
has been a noticeable drop in the public awareness campaigns against the
scourge.
“I have not got a satisfactory explanation from the Ministry
of Finance [on why the UAC has not been getting requisite financing]…when we
resume, I am going to put the Finance Minister to task to explain why they are
not doing much to raise funds,” said Kadaga.
Kadaga asked the Commission to screen Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) working against HIV/AIDS, who she says are discriminatory
and money inclined.
“The treatment of HIV has become a business [by some
NGOs]…when you go to check on output, it is not there…this kind of arrangement
disadvantages some parts of the country,” she said, in relation to how some
NGOs pick out which parts of the country they can operate in.
She said the Commission has to bank on religious institutions
to ensure messages are disseminated to raise awareness against HIV/AIDS.
“I think as a country, we have lost the momentum…it is a long
time since I last heard the adverts and jingles on radio stations,” she said.
Dr Mukoyo said the Commission had lined up several action
points but are cash-strapped. He feared that the sensitisation drive, which is
geared at having an HIV free generation by 2030, could be negatively impacted.
“Our budget for the next financial year is Shs 25 billion.
Unfortunately, we got Shs 8.7 billion, which cannot fund our strategic plan,”
said Dr Mukoyo.
Kadaga said whereas the Commission has been doing well, they
should give special attention to minority groups and fishing communities, which
face the highest risk of infection.
“I want to know what you are doing about small communities
like the Batwa. I also want to know whether you have a special arrangement for
fishing communities,” she said.
The Commission’s Director General, Dr Nelson Musoba, said: “I
believe they are at a disadvantage…we will take interest and compile a report
which, we will deliver to you.”
