UK criticises Uganda’s Aids Bill

The UK ambassador to Uganda on Tuesday added his voice to growing international criticism on some sections of the proposed HIV Prevention and Control Bill 2009.

Mr Martin Shearman said it could block an effective response to the fight against disease. He cautioned that while there are some positive aspects of the Bill such as prohibition of discrimination against people living with HIV/Aids, the Bill attempts to create a disease-specific offence which targets persons who have tested positive.

“This reinforces the risk of stigmatisation of persons with HIV/Aids which would be counter-productive in the fight against HIV/Aids,” Mr Shearman said at the 20th anniversary of the Medical Research Centre/Uganda Virus Research Institute unit in Entebbe.

He added: “It is important that everybody regardless of background, status or sexual orientation should have equal access to service and treatment without discrimination,” His comments come close on the heels of similar concerns raised by the United Nations Aids agency (UNAids).

The Bill, among other things, will compel HIV-positive people to reveal their status to their partners and also allows medical personnel to reveal one’s status to their partners.

The Bill criminalises and imposes a maximum penalty of death on intentional transmission of the virus. But the government has defended the proposed law, saying it is an effective way of containing malicious or deliberate infection of people. Mr Shearman said his government is committed to providing support through innovative research to reduce the spread of HIV/Aids in Uganda and across the globe.

State Minister for Health James Kakooza said the Bill is still subject to changes and all views of different people would be considered.
The Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, said the HIV/Aids epidemic has challenged the medical world over the last two decades and thus proven prevention methods should be encouraged. “The ABC-Abstain, Be faithful and use a Condom strategy has saved many lives. I have reinforced this strategy before and so let Uganda not divert from the ABC strategy until we find another strategy,” said Prof. Bukenya. He added that the Aids research agenda should focus on prevention and care. The institute has been undertaking research in HIV/Aids including the first ever HIV vaccine trial in Africa in 1999.