National AIDS Policy and Framework

As Uganda scales up the fight against HIV/AIDS, there is need to continually develop a strong and supportive legal and policy environment. The initial, general tendency was to handle HIV/AIDS as any other epidemic addressed under public health regulations. This changed to the multisectoral approach that has been embraced by the majority of stakeholders.

After its establishment, UAC compiled and documented HIV/AIDS policy guidelines in 1993, that were revised in 1996. These guidelines were prepared through comprehensive consultations across sectors and with partner consensus, and have largely been the reference point for HIV/AIDS policies that have guided implementation of programs and projects in response to the epidemic in the country. A few administrative and operational policies have been developed by various sectors to guide interventions in specific thematic areas, although they have remained fragmented.

However, the dynamics and magnitude of the social, psychosocial and economic impact of HIV/AIDS call for formulation and articulation of specific and appropriate policy guidance. This can then be used to develop legal and administrative instruments for containing the epidemic and protecting the rights of those at risk of infection, the infected and affected, and ensuring that the non-infected remain uninfected.

In addition, it should be noted that Uganda is a signatory to some international conventions, agreements and commitments which have to be ratified at country level.

Further, although some of the sector guidelines have been applied in implementation, others were not operationalized. This is partly because they were not adopted as policies by the respective sectors.

As the country scales up the national response, a stronger, more supportive and conducive policy environment to foster positive behaviour change and facilitate well coordinated implementation of identified HIV/AIDS national priorities is critical.