Practice Before Preaching”: UAC Pushes Condom Training for MPs

The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has proposed training Members of Parliament (MPs) on condom use to better equip them with the knowledge needed to educate their communities, amid growing concern over Uganda’s slow progress in curbing HIV infections.

The proposal was made by Ruth Ssenyonyi, Chairperson of the UAC Board, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Matters on October 15, 2025. The session focused on assessing Uganda’s current HIV response and the Commission’s ongoing strategies.

Ssenyonyi’s suggestion came in response to a question from Denis Onekalit, MP for Kitgum Municipality, who asked the Commission to share detailed data on regions with high rates of transactional sex and low condom use — factors identified as key drivers of new infections.

“Maybe one day, we’ll come not just to present reports, but to give you practical information — like how to use condoms,” Ssenyonyi said. “You may already know, but as representatives of the people, it’s important to understand these issues deeply so you can teach others accurately.”

Committee Chairperson Sarah Kayagi Netalisile welcomed the idea, saying many MPs lack medical backgrounds and would benefit from such orientation, especially with the Committee’s new members still learning the technical language used in the HIV/AIDS sector.

“Some of our members have served on the Committee for less than a year and may not be familiar with appropriate terminology,” Netalisile noted. “If you let them speak directly to people living positively, they might unintentionally offend because of language barriers. So, teaching them — even about condom use — would be very valuable.”

She added that the diverse religious and cultural backgrounds of MPs, including members who have never used condoms, make such training both necessary and impactful.

Uganda’s HIV Battle at a Crossroads

According to UAC data, Uganda registered 38,000 new HIV infections in 2024, with 22,000 occurring among women — particularly adolescents and young women aged 15 to 24.

The Commission warned that infection rates remain disproportionately high among sex workers in fishing communities, where prevalence stands at 37%, compared to the national average of 5.4%. Stigma and limited access to health services continue to hinder efforts to reach vulnerable populations, including more than 1,500 sex workers at landing sites across the country.

Findings from the 2024 AIDS at a Crossroads report reveal a decline in condom use, especially among young people aged 15–24. Only 36% of adults in Eastern and Southern Africa reported using condoms during their last sexual encounter, with even lower rates (25%) in Western and Central Africa.

Despite these setbacks, experts continue to emphasize condoms as the most effective and affordable tool in preventing HIV transmission, unintended pregnancies, and other sexually transmitted infections.

While some sex workers report consistent condom use with clients, access to other preventive measures — such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — remains limited. Health experts argue that scaling up PrEP could substantially reduce new infections, particularly among young women and individuals in high-risk regions.

A Call for Action

The UAC’s proposal underscores the urgent need for stronger HIV education and more informed advocacy at all levels of leadership. With Parliament playing a critical role in policy and community engagement, empowering MPs with accurate HIV prevention knowledge could help close the communication gap between policymakers and the public.