MPs okay controversial clause on HIV/Aids Bill

Once the Bill is passed into law, a person who will be convicted of such an offence faces up to 10 years in jail or pays a fine of about Shs5 million or both.

PARLIAMENT-Parliament yesterday approved a contentious clause that seeks to criminalise the intentional spread of HIV/Aids amidst protests from health rights organisations and the civil society.

The controversial Clause 41 on the HIV/Aids Bill which, was unanimously supported by the MPs, says a person who wilfully and intentionally transmits HIV/Aids to another person commits an offence.

What it means
Once the Bill is passed into law, a person who will be convicted of such an offence faces up to 10 years in jail or pays a fine of about Shs5 million or both.

But health activists attending Parliament as observers yesterday walked out in protest saying it was abominable to criminalise the intentional spread of HIV/Aids as this would discourage people from testing for HIV for fear of reprimand.

mnalugo@ug.nationmedia.com