Health CSOs discuss funding of AIDS Trust Fund

Jul 30, 2015

Health Sector CSOs involved in the HIV/AIDS response have met to discuss the funds and management of the AIDS Trust Fund.


By Esther Namirimu


KAMPALA - Health sector civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in the HIV/AIDS response have met to discuss the funds and management of the AIDS Trust Fund which will address the funding gaps as well as reduce donor reliance in Uganda.

The meeting was organised by the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organisations with financial support from Dan Church Aid.

It took place at Hotel Africana and was attended by the executive directors of CSOs and AIDS development partners.

In his keynote address, Dr. Nelson Musoba, director of planning and strategic information at the Uganda AIDS Commission, said that Uganda’s proposed national AIDS Trust Fund is supposed to be levied on beers, spirits, waragi, soft drinks, bottled water and tax revenue from any other taxable items as may be identified by the committee.

Mary Oduka Ochan, an Irish Aid senior advisor, advised participants to nominate people of integrity on the board of trustees to avoid issues of corruption.

“Engage the ministry of finance, planning and economic development to find out what areas could be available for taxing to support the AIDS Trust Fund,” she said.

‘Functionality and independence’

On his part, Prof. Vinand Nantulya, the chairman of Uganda AIDS Commission, said the recently passed public management law is in favour of the Fund.

There are ongoing discussions with the Uganda Revenue Authority, finance ministry about operationalizing the fund, he added.

“Emphasis should be put on the functionality of the board and its independence. We should have an independent board of trustees.”

The chairman also noted that the fund is not viable unless the public sees that the money is being managed well.

CSOs need to continuously get updates on the process of operationalizing the fund, weighed in Dr. Raymond Byaruhanga, the executive Director of AIDS Information Center.

‘Missing link’
 


From left: Dr. Nelson Musoba (UAC), Kenneth Mwehonge (HEPS-Uganda), Prof. Vinand Nantulya (UAC) and Dr. Raymond Byaruhanga (AIDS Information Center) were panelists during the meeting. (Credit: Esther Namirimu)


Bharam Namanya, who is the executive director of Community Health Alliance Uganda, also shared his thoughts.

He called for emphasis on strong leadership skills when nominating committee members, as well as agreement on key advocacy issues in order to operationalise the functionality of the fund.

Finances of the trust fund and minutes of board meetings should be made transparent by publishing them on the website, said Kenneth Mwehonge, programme advocacy Officer of HEPS-Uganda

“Investing in strong community networks has been a missing link in bringing life-saving services closer to the people,” he added.

In the same meeting, Dr. Lydia Mungherera, the executive director of Mama’s Club, urged CSOs to come up with a way of managing crises and also monitoring funds that come into the AIDS Trust Fund.

Meanwhile, Joshua Wamboga of Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organizations (UNASO) recommended that Uganda should borrow a leaf from countries like Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and Ghana that already have successful operational Trust Funds.

Pressure is mounting, he explained, for Uganda to become less reliant on donor funding and to increase the overall amount of national finance allocated for HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment.

He noted that in 2012, the government proposed levy increases on bank transactions, interest and taxes and certain consumer goods in order to raise funds to support local HIV programmes and to increase domestic funding.

This move comes as one of Uganda’s main donors, President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) released their new strategy – indicating a shift away from just funding treatment programmes, towards providing more technical support in order to encourage self-sufficiency.

As Uganda increases availability of antiretroviral drugs, access to them will be increasingly reliant to greater investment in the national healthcare system, to ensure clinics are equipped to handle even greater patient numbers.

Presently, about 600,000 people are on anti-retroviral treatment in Uganda.

But close to 90% of this treatment is donor-funded Under PEPFAR and Global Fund, including the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, which is 100% funded by the American government.

The government of Uganda contributes 12%, donors 68% and private sources including out of pocket at 20% (NASA report 2012).

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