Introduction
The Uganda AIDS Commission is a government institution responsible for providing strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination of Uganda’s multisectoral response to HIV and AIDS.
History and Background
The Uganda AIDS Commission, commonly known as UAC, was established in 1992 through an Act of Parliament and operates under the Office of the President of the Republic of Uganda.
The Commission was created to oversee, plan, and coordinate HIV prevention and control activities throughout the country. Its establishment provided Uganda with a central institution capable of harmonizing the work of government ministries, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, development partners, researchers, communities, and organizations representing people living with HIV.
UAC operates according to the “Three Ones” principles: one national HIV and AIDS coordinating authority, one national strategic plan, and one national monitoring and evaluation framework. These principles are intended to reduce duplication and promote a coherent national response.
Mission and Purpose
The Commission’s vision is “A Population Free of HIV and Its Effects,” while its mission is to provide effective leadership to the multisectoral HIV and AIDS response.
Its overall goal is the effective coordination and management of the national response toward ending AIDS in Uganda. Its strategic objectives include strengthening governance and management systems, mobilizing resources, improving advocacy and communication, and strengthening strategic information for evidence-based decision-making.
UAC’s mandate covers HIV prevention, counselling and treatment, psychosocial support for people living with HIV, and the systems required to sustain the national response. It formulates policies, establishes program priorities, coordinates HIV-related plans, identifies implementation barriers, disseminates information, and supervises activities related to controlling the epidemic.
The Commission does not ordinarily implement HIV interventions directly. Instead, it provides strategic leadership and coordinates the organizations responsible for delivering programs and services.
Governance and Structure
The Uganda AIDS Commission consists of the Commission Board and the Secretariat. The Board is its highest decision-making body and provides policy guidance and strategic direction for implementing the institution’s mandate.
The Secretariat is headed by a Director General appointed by the President of Uganda. The Director General serves as the Commission’s chief executive and secretary to the Board. The Secretariat implements Board decisions and provides technical advice on HIV and AIDS policy, planning, coordination, research, and programming.
The Secretariat has five principal directorates: Finance and Accounting; Planning and Strategic Information; Policy, Research and Programming; Human Resources and Administration; and Partnership.
UAC also works through national and subnational coordination structures that bring together public institutions, private-sector organizations, civil society, cultural and religious institutions, researchers, development partners, and communities affected by HIV.
Funding and Grants
Uganda AIDS Commission is primarily a national coordinating and oversight institution rather than a conventional grant-making foundation. Its financial role includes advocating for adequate investment, coordinating resource mobilization, tracking resources, and encouraging sustainable financing for Uganda’s HIV and AIDS response.
Funding for the broader national response comes from the Government of Uganda and national and international development partners. UAC works to align these resources with national priorities and reduce gaps or duplication across participating institutions.
The Commission has developed a National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Resource Mobilization Strategy for 2024/25–2029/30. This framework supports efforts to increase domestic and external financing, improve the coordination of available resources, and promote the long-term sustainability of HIV prevention, treatment, care, research, and support services.
Any fellowships, procurement opportunities, partnership funding, or calls administered through UAC are announced separately and are governed by their respective guidelines. Organizations should therefore consult the Commission’s official website for current opportunities rather than assume that it operates a permanent open-grant program.
Major Programs and Initiatives
The National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan guides Uganda’s coordinated response to the epidemic. The plan establishes priorities for evidence-informed prevention, testing, treatment, care, social support, institutional capacity, and monitoring.
The Presidential Fast-Track Initiative supports Uganda’s efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. UAC coordinates stakeholders and promotes the implementation of priority measures associated with this national commitment.
The National HIV and AIDS Research Agenda provides direction for research conducted at national and subnational levels. It helps align research investments with the country’s information needs and encourages evidence that can improve HIV policies, programs, and services.
The National HIV and AIDS Symposium creates a platform for researchers, policymakers, service providers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to exchange evidence and experiences. The symposium supports the translation of research findings into policies and practical interventions.
UAC also conducts Joint Annual AIDS Reviews to assess progress in implementing the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan, identify challenges, and agree on priority actions for subsequent periods.
The National AIDS Documentation and Information Centre provides access to reports, policies, strategic plans, research documents, manuals, fact sheets, and other HIV-related resources. These materials support researchers, policymakers, program managers, healthcare professionals, and community organizations.
Advocacy and public communication are additional areas of work. The Commission coordinates national HIV messages, supports initiatives addressing stigma and discrimination, and participates in activities such as World AIDS Day and the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The Uganda AIDS Commission’s primary impact comes from coordinating the institutions and partners responsible for Uganda’s HIV response. It has helped establish shared national strategies, policy frameworks, monitoring systems, research priorities, and annual review processes.
Through the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan, UAC provides a common framework for aligning government departments, development partners, civil society organizations, private institutions, and community actors around agreed priorities.
Its HIV and AIDS fact sheets consolidate national estimates and epidemiological information for public use. The Commission maintains fact sheets covering multiple years, including a 2025 technical fact sheet, helping stakeholders understand trends and make evidence-based decisions.
The Commission has also developed policy and communication resources addressing HIV prevention, treatment, stigma, discrimination, community engagement, and the integration of HIV priorities into different sectors.
Its coordination and advocacy activities strengthen national dialogue on prevention, sustainable financing, treatment access, research, gender, youth engagement, and the participation of people living with HIV.
Conclusion
The Uganda AIDS Commission plays a central role in Uganda’s efforts to prevent HIV infections, improve the national response, and end AIDS as a public health threat. By coordinating stakeholders, developing policies and strategies, mobilizing resources, strengthening research, and monitoring progress, UAC provides the institutional leadership required for a unified and evidence-based response.
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