Govt tightens HIV & AIDS mainstreaming in new budget guidelines

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The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, has directed all accounting officers across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and local governments to allocate at least 0.1 percent of their non-pension and non-transfer budgets to HIV & AIDS interventions in the 2026/27 financial year.

The directive, issued as part of the budget preparation guidelines, is aimed at accelerating Uganda’s efforts to end HIV & AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with Presidential Fast-Track Initiatives (PFTIs).

The PFTI on HIV & AIDS in Uganda was launched by President Yoweri Museveni in June 2017 as a high-level, five-point plan aiming to eliminate HIV & AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The strategy focuses on engaging men, closing the tap on new infections in adolescent girls or young women, accelerating the 90-90-90 targets (testing, treatment, viral suppression), eliminating mother-to-child transmission, and ensuring financial sustainability.

The initiative was launched in response to data indicating that while 60% of men had been tested, more needed to be done to achieve the 90-90-90 target.

Ggoobi informed the accounting officers in a February 13 budget preparation circular that the funds must be sourced strictly from Government of Uganda revenues or local collections, underscoring the need for domestic financing in sustaining the national HIV response.

“All votes should allocate a minimum of 0.1 percent of their budgets to HIV & AIDS interventions and ensure proper reporting using the designated Chart of Accounts,” he said.

He further guided that all MDAs and local governments should ensure that their budgets are responsive to key cross-cutting issues, including non-discrimination, gender and equity, environmental protection, and social safeguards.

Ggoobi said the government does not tolerate discrimination in any form and directed accounting officers to align all projects with Article 21 of the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act.

This, he noted, guarantees equal access to opportunities and benefits regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or socio-economic status.

In addition, the Treasury has instructed Votes to prioritise targeted interventions for vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

“These interventions should focus on improving access to healthcare, education, protection services, and economic empowerment programmes within available resources,” said Ggoobi.

On public health preparedness, the PS called for strengthened investments not only in HIV & AIDS, but also in malaria control, epidemic surveillance, and rapid response systems. He said these efforts are critical in building resilience against emerging health threats.

The directive also emphasises inclusivity, requiring all government programmes and infrastructure projects to integrate universal access standards to cater for persons with disabilities.

Furthermore, accounting officers have been urged to prioritise environmental conservation through investments in wetland protection, forest restoration, sustainable land use, waste management, and pollution control.