While attending the Manufacturers Health Fair and Business Networking luncheon, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Janat Mukwaya revealed that government intends to introduce compulsory HIV testing.
According to the minister, young people in school, primary, secondary and higher institutions will be subjected to the tests. She further states that the move will help them know their status hence helping them get immediate treatment.
Despite the recent fall in HIV infection incidences between 2011 and 2017, Uganda still has approximately 1.3 million people living with HIV.
Last year, Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) released a report indicating amongst the 83,000 new HIV infections every year, majority of which are among young people especially girls and 3,100 new HIV infections among children below 15 years. In 2015, it was estimated that 567 Young people aged between 15-24years get infected with HIV every week and of these 363 are Girls.