Uganda: New Bill to Protect People With HIV

Uganda's Parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDS is working on the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, which would provide workplace and civil liberties protections for infected persons. The committee is discussing the measure with stakeholders in regional and national consultations, after which it will be presented to Parliament.

Under clause 32 of the bill, "A person shall not be denied access to employment of which he or she is qualified or transferred, denied promotion or have his/her employment terminated on ground of his/her actual, perceived or suspected HIV status." An offender could be subject to three months in prison, a fine of not less than 500,000 Ugandan shillings (US $263) or both.

"If this bill is approved, it will make it mandatory for the UPDF [Uganda People's Defense Force] and other security outfits to employ people living with HIV," said Beatrice Rwakimari, the committee's chairperson. Currently, UPDF tests potential recruits for HIV and does not accept those who are infected. Participants at a recent national meeting on the proposed measure recommended that UDPF be consulted before the bill becomes law.

The legislation prohibits schools from expelling students suspected of having HIV, and it bans restricting a person's freedom of movement based on HIV/AIDS status. In addition, it criminalizes intentional HIV transmission, imposing punishment of up to life in prison.

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