80% of prisoners know their HIV status on admission- Prisons Service

By Ben Musanje

9^th Aug 2023

The Uganda Prisons Service -UPS have continued to refute claims that homosexuality is the main driver of the high HIV prevalence rate in jail centers.

Speaking to health journalists in Kampala today, Frank Baine the Prisons Spokesperson says that the HIV prevalence among male inmates is lower than the female counterparts with 11% and 13% respectively though higher than the national figure of 6.5%.

Last month, stories featured in the mainstream media and social media indicating that HIV prevalence among inmates was largely due to homosexuality and that several inmates got infected within the prison cells.

Baine says that most of the prisoners who were found to be HIV positive were already infected prior to their incarceration, but were unaware of their status.

He explains that 80 percent of the inmates get to know their HIV status on admission after pre-test since 75% of them are either illiterate or semi-illiterate to the extent that they still believe that the epidemic is a traditional disease or due to the bewitches

Baine says that the easy drivers of high HIV prevalence in prisons include sharing of sharp objects like laser blades and needles to clean their bodies without thinking that they could get infected through those objects.

He explains that many inmates in prisons are serving sentences or facing trial for cases of rape and defilement while others are deviants.

Dr Nelson Musoba, the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) Executive Director says that they are still registering many cases of HIV/AIDS from sex workers, same sex relationship groups and prisoners among others that are reluctant in protection.

Dr Stephen Watiti, the Board Chairman of National Forum of People Living with HIV Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU) says there is more need to support inmates to adhere to the treatment so that they can live.