The President of the Republic of Uganda signed into law the Homosexuality Bill early this week. This was followed by heavy criticism from the United States President Joe Biden, the United Kingdom’s MP Andrew Mitchell, Dr. John Nkengasong US Ambassador PEPFAR and the Executive Director UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, among others, have issued statements full of falsehoods linking the law to crippling the fight against HIV/AIDS and other general health services.
President Biden’s comments on the law
“Innocent Ugandans now fear going to hospitals, clinics, or other establishments to receive life- saving medical care lest they be targeted by hateful reprisals,” President Biden said of the Act.
MP Mitchell,
“The legislation will set back the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Michell
Byanyima for UNAIDS
“Uganda’s progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy; the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will obstruct health education and outreach that can help end AIDS,” Byanyima
Dr. John Nkengasong for PEPFAR’s statement
‘PEPFAR’s annual HIV/AIDS response investment in Uganda is $400 million.”Passage of the anti-homosexuality Act jeopardizes efforts to end HIV/AIDS.” Tweeted Nkengsong
However, according to the Uganda Ministry of Health, health care is for all people despite the anti-gay law.
“All people, whether they are sexually oriented as gays or otherwise, are at complete liberty to get full treatment and give full disclosure to their doctors and nurses,” the Ministry of Health stated.
Like with all other laws formulated, there is no section or part of the law that alters the confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship, governed under the Hippocratic oath, or the constitutionally guaranteed right to life, which includes the right of everyone to seek and obtain treatment anywhere in Uganda.
In light of the above statement, one wonders, then, why there is such a rush to link the law to HIV patients being denied medical services when the law does not in fact have such a provision aside from the three above imagined statements made by the people of the western world, with intentions well known to them?
Ugandans are surprised, especially the medical officers, at the link between homosexuality and an increase in HIV/AIDS. Interestingly, none of the critics can point out a particular section that condemns people living with HIV/AIDS, as in fact it does not exist.
Misinterpreting the Act is actually pushing these people to peddle unfounded references to the enactment as being against people living with HIV/AIDS. Their behavior will actually cause a lot of harm to the very people they seek to defend by denying them crucial aid.
If they interpreted and understood the law, then they would be convinced that the two are not in any way connected; unfortunately, they have based their opinions on feelings and not the actual provisions of the law.
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