Uganda Aids Commission to Host University Leaders Conference

Uganda AIDS commission in partnership with the Uganda National students’ Association (UNSA) is organizing a one day conference this Wednesday 20th June, 2018. The conference about HIV/AIDS response will be held at Uganda Christian University in Mukono.  This conference of university students’ leaders will be graced by the King of Tooro Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV who also doubles as the UNAIDS Ambassador against AIDS for young people in Africa.

The conference is one of the activities undertaken by the Uganda AIDS Commission as a follow up to President Museveni’s initiative to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The Presidential Fast Track Initiative (PFTI) was launched by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on June 6, 2017 whose overall aim is to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 making Uganda the first country to launch the fast track initiative worldwide.

There will also be a breakfast meeting on Thursday 21^st June at Imperial Royale with senior top management of the armed forces whose main purpose is to hold a dialogue on how to accelerate efforts of ending AIDS as a public health threat in the country by 2030.

While addressing the press at the Office of the President Board Room on Monday June 18^th, the Director General Uganda Aids Commission Dr. Nelson Musoba shared a brief report on how the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative (PFTI) has been working to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

Dr. Musoba revealed that the AIDS commission and other stakeholders are reflecting on the lessons learnt and challenges encountered since the launch of this initiative, “The Ministry for the Presidency working through Uganda AIDS Commission has so far held three accountability forums; one in Mid-Northern Region on December 1^st 2017 in Kole District, the second in Hoima for the Mid-Western region on February 28^th 2018 and the third in Namayingo District for the Eastern Central region on May 17^th 2018.” Musoba told journalists.

He also added that a full report will be received and launched by the speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga today Monday 18^th June at the parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Under the theme ‘Reaching men, girls and young women to reduce HIV infections’ Musoba said more regions will be reached during the remaining period of 2018. “We plan to hold five more accountability events for the remaining period up to December 2018, in each of the remaining regions of central 1 and 2, West Nile, Southwestern, Karamoja and eastern Uganda.” Musoba said.

According to the Uganda AIDS Commission, over 2,179,692 men tested for HIV during 2017 with 69,854 (3.1%) identified as positive. Among the tested men, 82% put under treatment.