CSOs raise alarm over digital violations affecting HIV services

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Several civil society organisations (CSOs), including the Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET), have warned that digital violence and discrimination are quietly undermining public health, human rights and inclusive governance in Uganda, particularly affecting people living with HIV.

The revelations were made during the briefing on February 27, 2026, at UGANET offices in Ntinda, Kampala city, ahead of Zero Discrimination Day under the theme: Zero Discrimination beyond Borders: Safeguarding Digital Rights, Public Health, and Inclusive Governance.

Speakers emphasised that discrimination today is no longer confined to physical spaces but has expanded into digital platforms, where digital discrimination and violations, including stigma, online harassment, breaches of confidentiality, and internet shutdowns, are increasingly affecting people living with HIV and can have life-threatening consequences.

UGANET linked internet access directly to the right to health and non-discrimination, arguing that in today’s world, digital access is not a luxury but a lifeline, adding that digital spaces must become safe spaces because discrimination, even online, has real-world consequences.

Major gaps remain

UGANET board member, the Rev. Can. Byamugisha Gideon, acknowledged that Uganda has made progress in crafting inclusive laws. However, he stressed that implementation remains a major gap.

“There is a will for an inclusive Uganda,” he said, drawing on a biblical analogy. “As Jesus said, ‘the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’ Our laws reflect the spirit of inclusion, but the body, meaning practice and implementation, lags.”

He added that the Internet should be a tool that encourages confidence and acceptance, not stigma and discrimination. The current gap between policy and practice, he warned, allows digital barriers and stigma to continue affecting young and marginalised people living with HIV.

Mosses Nsubuga, widely known as “Super Charger,” who publicly lives with HIV and mentors young people on viral load adherence, spoke candidly about the double burden faced by youth.

“Young people already face discrimination at home, school, and in their communities. When digital tools are blocked, even temporarily, the sense of isolation increases, and treatment adherence suffers,” he said.

He noted that adherence to antiretroviral therapy remains a challenge in Uganda, particularly among young people. However, he emphasised that individuals who consistently take well-prescribed ARVs and maintain viral suppression do not transmit HIV to negative partners.

He noted that young people should learn adherence and acceptance, and connect with online counselling or peer groups.

Angel Laura Kyakunzire, an advocacy officer at UGANET, urged communities and policymakers to confront the intersection between stigma, violence and digital exclusion.

“Discrimination remains a major barrier to HIV care. Policies and digital practices that fail to protect vulnerable populations, whether intentionally or through blanket measures like internet shutdowns, perpetuate both social and systemic harm,” she said.

Kyakunzire strongly condemned online harassment and public shaming of people living with HIV.

“Those who publicly shame and criticise HIV patients online must stop. Digital violence stresses and stigmatises people,” she said.

She shared that during the January shutdown, some patients still relied on phone calls for medication reminders, showing how critical digital tools have become in supporting treatment adherence.

The January 2026 nationwide internet shutdown, which lasted nearly 100 hours ahead of Uganda’s general elections, was cited as a clear example of digital exclusion with serious health and economic consequences. 

While authorities said the move was intended to prevent misinformation and electoral violence, civil society actors argued that it disrupted telemedicine services, HIV treatment coordination, emergency communication, and others.

For people living with HIV, digital platforms are essential for tele-counselling, peer support, treatment reminders, and referrals. When connectivity is cut off, anxiety increases, treatment adherence becomes harder, and isolation deepens.

UGANET and its civil society partners called on the government and regulatory bodies to recognise internet access as integral to public health and human rights. They urged authorities to prevent blanket internet shutdowns, strengthen legal safeguards, and promote secure, user-centred digital health platforms that protect sensitive HIV-related data.

They also emphasised the need for digital health literacy programs to ensure marginalised communities can safely navigate online health systems without fear of harassment, hacking, or data breaches.