Uganda: As second reading of controversial national HIV law awaits, activists hope regional HIV law – with no HIV criminal statute – will take precedence

Activists in Uganda are seeing an opportunity to shoot down the country’s controversial HIV Bill that criminalises transmission of the Aids virus and enforces mandatory testing, after President Yoweri Museveni signed a more liberal one proposed by the East African Community.  They want Uganda’s parliament to incorporate into law the EAC HIV and Aids Prevention Bill (EAC HIV Bill) that President Museveni signed last week. More than 30 NGOs in Uganda find the national law that is awaiting a second reading in parliament offensive, saying that it could exacerbate the spread of HIV. Laws passed by the East African Legislative Assembly take precedence over national laws. President Museveni can also prevail upon the Ugandan parliament to drop the bill.