The Uganda Aids Commission came under sharp criticism from Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Wednesday, after failing to explain persistent delivery challenges for Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs) across the country.
Appearing before the committee to respond to queries in the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year, commission officials struggled to justify their performance—drawing particular ire over the absence of Director General and Accounting Officer Dr Nelson Musoba.
Although some MPs initially objected to proceeding without Dr Musoba, the committee agreed to continue after receiving legal guidance.
Officials then blamed the delivery delays on a lack of funds to buy fuel for transporting the life-saving drugs to health facilities.
This admission triggered an outburst from lawmakers, who questioned how a key health agency could lack basic logistical support.
“The argument that the Commission lacks transport means—specifically funds to purchase fuel to deliver drugs—angered legislators, who questioned the country’s priorities,” read a summary of committee observations.
The session also exposed deep revenue collection gaps at the Commission. According to the Auditor General, the Commission collected only Shs700,000 in Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) out of an expected Shs45 million for the 2023/2024 financial year—falling short by Shs44.3 million.
Despite these setbacks, the Commission reassured Parliament that Uganda has adequate stocks of ARVs in storage.
“We have enough ARV drugs in stock,” an official stated.
The committee, however, warned that without urgent solutions to the transportation problem, those drugs may not reach the patients who depend on them.
The grilling highlights deeper concerns about inefficiencies in Uganda’s public health delivery system. MPs urged the Commission to re-examine its operations and prioritise logistics to avoid disruptions in ARV access, especially for vulnerable populations living with HIV.
As scrutiny intensifies, pressure is mounting on the Commission to not only account for the missing revenue but also ensure reliable distribution of critical medication throughout the country.
The Uganda Aids Commission is a government agency established in 1992 to coordinate and oversee the national response to HIV /Aids.
Operating under the Office of the President, the Commission is mandated to formulate policies, mobilise resources, and monitor the implementation of HIV prevention, care, and treatment programmes across the country.
It works in collaboration with ministries, development partners, civil society, and local governments to ensure a unified and effective approach to controlling the spread of HIV and mitigating its impact on communities.