The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs’ plan to spend part of its 2025/26 budget on promoting condom use has triggered sharp debate in Parliament, with lawmakers questioning the relevance of sexual health campaigns within a legal docket.
The ministry has allocated Shs115 million to HIV/Aids mainstreaming activities, including condom distribution, education on proper and consistent use, and organizing medical camps. The decision has drawn fire from MPs who argue that core judicial services such as legal aid, court case backlogs, and enforcement of constitutional rights remain underfunded.
“What business does the Ministry of Justice have distributing condoms when we still have people languishing in remand prisons due to lack of legal representation?” one MP asked during a committee session.
The controversy came to light during the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee’s review of the ministry’s 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper. According to the document, the ministry also intends to participate in World Aids Day and continue hosting health outreach programs targeting staff and the public.
Permanent Secretary Robert Kasande defended the budget line, noting that according to the Budget Call Circular, each ministry is mandated to allocate 0.01% of its total budget to HIV and TB awareness and response.
“These are national obligations. HIV and TB affect every sector, and the Ministry of Justice is no exception,” he said.
But it was Minister Norbert Mao’s comments that added fuel to the fire.
“I didn’t come here to talk about sex,” Mao said in response to critics. “When Philly Lutaaya came to Makerere in the 1980s, HIV was terrifying. Condoms became a symbol of survival. To trivialise this fight is to undermine Uganda’s progress.”
Mao’s remarks, while defending the health initiative, were seen by some MPs as deflecting from the real issue—budget prioritisation. Others, however, backed the ministry’s position, arguing that promoting safe sex and preventing HIV is a cross-cutting issue that deserves attention in every institution.
In Uganda, condom use remains a critical component of the national HIV response, especially among young people and high-risk populations. While awareness has improved over the years, stigma and inconsistent use persist.
As Parliament continues to vet sector budgets, the debate has spotlighted the balance between fulfilling national health obligations and focusing on core institutional mandates.
