Hon.Alex Bakunda (left) talking to patients at the Mbarara Hospital.
- a threat to Rural Africa, 26 per cent of the Namibian labour force has been affected by the disease.
Due to its huge effect on human
development, former United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan is quoted to have said “never in history has there arisen such a widespread and fundamental threat to human development as HIV/AIDS. Since the disease, awareness In Uganda has risen to over 99 per cent and everybody has been affected by HIV/AIDS. In the early 1990s Uganda was the epicenter of the epi- demic with a general population prevalence of 18.5 per cent which has now come down to 6.4 per cent. A prevalence rate of 30.5 per cent
was observed among pregnant women especially in urban centers.
The government’s response In 1982-89 the government set up an ad hoc response, which was later led by the Ministry of Health in 1986- 1992.To date, several sectors have responded to the fight with the establishment of the Uganda AIDS Commission by an act of Parliament. The prevalence rate in Uganda has
reduced from 18.5 per cent in 1982 to 6.4 per cent in 2005 because of good governance which allowed the partici-
pation of women and youth at all structures. Uganda was also the first country in Africa to do confidential voluntary counseling and testing serv- ices.Condoms were also distributed and backed by strong public education. The government also emphasized
the treatment and control of STIs as well as the decrease in multiple sexual partnerships. Through his efforts, Mr
Museveni, has also embarked on the ABC (Abstain, Be faithful or use a Condom) model, to fight the disease. Ugandan legislators and Parliament have also joined the campaign to fight the epidemic. Since 1986, Parliamentarians have
played a big role in the fight against HIV/AIDS especially in advocacy and awareness creation, budget alloca- tion and monitoring. Parliament, as a legislative arm of
government, set up a standing com- mittee on AIDS to enable it to legis- late on issues that concern the dis- ease. For example, it monitors and evaluates the government’s role in improving the public health services and providing safe blood transfusion. Parliament also legislates for
rights-based and gender-sensitive non-discrimination quality policies and review existing legislation, partic-
ularly with regard to AIDS orphans, employment and family property rights. Parliament has also put in place audit and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the government spends efficiently.This is in addition to encouraging parliamentary commit- tees to liaise effectively with local government, charity organizations, community-based organizations. Parliament has also passed laws to criminalize the act to curb spreading of the disease. Parliament has so far done a great job to ensure that the problem is being reduced.The members, though their constituency, have set up con- stituency task forces to sensitize com- munities on matters concerning HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency
Virus Control Bill 2007 is currently before Parliament and would soon be passed to legislative matters concerning the disease.On 14 March 2008 Parliament marked the commemoration of 25 years of HIV/AIDS in Uganda where the president applauded Parliament on its effort against the fight. In 1992, Parliament enacted the
Uganda AIDS Statute which estab- lished the Uganda AIDS Commission. In 2002, it also set up a standing committee on HIV/AIDS