Govt demands more control over Aids NGOs

Kampala- The Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) wants a greater role in regulating HIV/Aids non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in rural areas.

This is meant to ensure they stick to their work plans. The commission is now drawing a matrix into which to enter the NGOs engaged in HIV/Aids prevention upcountry.

Additionally, it has met the NGO registration board, a unit in the Internal Affairs ministry, which currently certifies all NGOs/civil society organisations, to express need to regulate the NGOs.

“As Uganda Aids Commission, we would like to part of that process. We would like to regulate better the people who are helping us to deliver [HIV/Aids] services in the countryside,” Dr Nelson Musoba, UAC’s director-general, said this at Parliament yesterday.

“When we go on monitoring visits, we will say ‘during registration, you said you are going to do 1, 2, 3 in places 4, 5, 6. Is that where you are? Is that what you are doing? Is that the amount of money you said you were going to spend?”

Dr Musoba, who was speaking during the release of a report on ending the threat posed by HIV/Aids to health, said the committee that will be established would have representatives from the ministry of Health, among others.

Dr Patrick Tusiime, the commissioner of National Disease Control, said whereas Uganda is making progress in reducing the incidence of HIV/Aids, Ugandans should not be complacent.

“To stop HIV/Aids from becoming a threat to public health, we need everybody to get involved…” Dr Tusiime said.
Speaking at the same event, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga urged Members of Parliament to use the upcoming recess to speak to their constituents about HIV/Aids.

“I want you to go and speak to fishing communities, boda boda and taxi operators, border communities; they need our support,” Ms Kadaga said.
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