Kikonyogo Ngatya
14 November 2009
The National Forum of People Living with HIV/Aids wants the government to explain the alleged disappearance of over $4.27 million (Shs8 billion) from the Global Fund that was given to Uganda to buy antiretroviral drugs between October and December this year.
Mr James Kibanga, the forum's national coordinator told reporters at Nansana Town Council Hall in Wakiso District on Wednesday that the money that was released to address an acute shortfall of ARVs in Masindi and Apac districts, has since gone missing. "The money was received by the Ministry of Finance, but most likely it was diverted to salaries for health workers," Mr Kibanga said.
Mr Kibanga noted that as a result of the disappearance of the money, two HIV/AIDS treatment centres in Masindi and Apac had closed down,and
At least 17 of their members have died due to lack of treatment. " This money was released at our pleading with the donors to rescue the desperate situation, but government officials say it is in Bank of Uganda, others say it is still being wired, but the period stipulated is closing in," he said. But Uganda Aids Commission officials declined to comment about the alleged missing saying they had no details. Uganda currently has over 360,000 people eligible for anti-retroviral treatment, but half of them have access to the drugs, since the Global Fund suspended grants to Uganda after the money was misused.
The National Coordinating Committee for the GF recently recommended The Aids Support Organisation to handle the disbursement of money to the civil society organisations in the country for care and treatment of those infected and affected.
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