Over 100 TASO staff to be laid off

Courtesy Photo.

What you need to know:

While announcing the close-out of the Taso support project on Tuesday, the executive director, Dr Christine Nabiryo, said the $4 million (Shs10b) annually funded programme had hit its time frame. She said the project has supported more than eight community based organisations and about 12,000 orphans since 2009.

More than 100 staff of The Aids Support Organisation (TASO) are to remain jobless as a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project winds up its work.

While announcing the close-out of the Taso support project on Tuesday, the executive director, Dr Christine Nabiryo, said the $4 million (Shs10b) annually funded programme had hit its time frame. She said the project has supported more than eight community based organisations and about 12,000 orphans since 2009.

“Every project has its beginning and end but I am sad to say that we shall be losing about 100 members of staff who have been implementing the project,” said Dr Nabiryo

The USAID Mission director, Dr Leslie Reed, said the people of the US had not withdrawn their support to Uganda despite the signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act.

“I would like to make this very clear…It (the Anti-homosexuality Act) has not lessened the United States’ commitment to supporting and assisting Uganda people…,” Dr Reed noted adding they have not cut assistance to Ugandan’s most vulnerable people.

However, at the beginning of her speech, she noted that she had attended most close-outs of US funded project in recent weeks.

TASO is also organizing a local fundraising Campaign slated for August this year for Ugandans to contribute to the cause of preventing HIV/AIDS in the country.