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LIRA

The judicial officials have been urged to take the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS in an effort to achieve the goal of ending the deadly disease in the country by 2030.

The messages of appeal were on Thursday poured to the judicial officials by various stakeholders during the health awareness camp held at Lira High Court.

The Public health coordinators at Uganda Aids Commission, Tom Etii who represented the Director General, urged the judicial officials to continue engaging and reminding the members of the public and staff about HIV until the country reaches its target of ending AIDs by 2030.

Etii said, there are about 1.4million people living with HIV in Uganda and the majority are women totalling to about 840,000 which he said is crippling the economic development of the country.

About 500,000 he said are men while about 880,000 are young people which is a very big number which needs to be addressed collectively.

Like other stakeholders in development, Etii said the judicial officials should constantly sensitize its staff and the court users on HIV/AIDS so the new infection, stigma and AIDS related death can end.

Specifically about the Lango sub region, Etii said attributed the high infection rate to over consumption of alcohol since the region leads in the country in high rate of drinking.

According to him, last year 2022 alone, Uganda as a country registered 52,000 new infections and both Lira district and city combined (which is Centre of Lango sub region) had about 27,900 people infected and the second highest district in the region with new infection rate was Oyam.

“I am happy the Judiciary has started this journey in helping to address the burden across the country. We need to communicate to the young people to change the lifestyle and the behavioral issues among them in a struggle to eliminate AIDS in 2023 and the stakeholders should be exemplary in the struggle,” Etii.

Lawrence Egole, the Resident City Commissioner of Lira officiated at the judicial health camp in Lira that attracted hundreds of judicial officials both from within the Lira High Court Circuit and head offices, legal advocates, members of the security forces and the local community.

In his message, RCC Egole commended the judicial officers and legal advocates in Lango for professionally managing justice in the region, calling upon them to pay close attention to their health because when they are boxed down by the disease, it will leave the entire community in trouble.

He challenged the parents to take time to understand and control the behaviors of their children who are coming back home for holidays, so that they are able to protect them from getting infected with HIV/AIDS as one way of protecting the younger generation and the generation to come.

Hilary Okello, the Lira City HIV/AIDS Focal Point Person (2nd Right) handing over condom dispenser to Lira Chief Magistrate Samson Abiti Loum (Left) and other Judicial officials during Lira High Court health camp on Wednesday. (Photo by Joseph Ekol)

At the event, the HIV positive staff, Eseri Nandudu who is the office attendant at the Court of Appeal encouraged the judicial officials to test themselves to know their status and enroll for ARV medication once they test positive for the deadly disease.

She testified that she tested positive in 2005, declared her status to the judiciary, enrolled for ARV drugs which she has been taking and has made her stronger and healthy. She praised the judiciary for offering her stigma-free environment and supporting her in her medication.

Samson Abiti Loum, The Chief Magistrate of Lira, made commitment that they will ensure they combat the spread of HIV/AIDS at workplace by sensitizing the staff and the court users, advising the staff to abstain from sex, remain faithful to their partners and or use of protection for those who can’t abstain.

“We will ensure we don’t allow too much pressure of work to tear them down to the point that they cannot be faithful to their partners,” Abiti added.

Festo Nsenga, the Deputy Registrar of criminal division who doubles as a member of Judiciary HIV/AIDS committee who led the team for Lira High Court health camp, appealed to the judicial officials to relay the messages to court users in each and every engagement they have with them.

Apart from talking verbally, banners, stickers should be displayed on the premises at a corner where every court user can read to remind them.

Dr. Elizabeth Kasirye, the Public Health specialist took participants through the use of protective gears, a session which excited judicial officials and the advocates most.