Uganda: Global Fund - Country to Wait for Round 9

Instead, the government will apply for Round Nine whose proposals are due in January next year.

Both rounds are supposed to approve proposals for health systems strengthening cross-cutting interventions for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids.

"A country can decide not to apply for a particular round, which is normal. We have received approval for two previous rounds and we hope to qualify for Round Nine," said Jim Arinaitwe, Global Fund co-ordinator at Uganda Aids Commission.

With the approval of the two proposals under Phase II of Round 3 and 7, Uganda will have enough funds to run its HIV/Aids programmes through the next five years. Should Round Nine also be approved, funding will be covered for the next seven years.

Proposals submitted under the Global Fund only seek additional support for programmes for malaria, TB and HIV/Aids. The proposals plan to achieve time bound outputs and outcomes towards prevention, treatment and providing care as well as support for people in need.

Mr Arinaitwe says Uganda will get at least $360 million from the Fund under the two previous rounds that were not approved but have been given a go-ahead now -- $70.2 million and $254 million for Phase I and Phase II respectively under Round 7 and $36 million under Round Three.

Another source said Uganda does not need the funds from Round Eight because, even at the national level, donor assistance to the national budget has dropped from 50 to 38 per cent.

Funds from the Global Fund are used for budget support and are remitted to the consolidated fund at the central bank.

They are disbursed through the Ministries of Finance and Health, which implement the approved activities through the national health strategic plan.

The source further said the process of getting funds from the Global Fund is now demand driven and the amount of funds goes by the proposal and the disease. Round Eight will not be the first time that Uganda has missed out on the Global Fund, only this time it choose not to apply.

The country was left out in Round Five after presenting a proposal focusing on nutrition and in 2005 it was suspended temporarily from receiving funds over irregularities in administration of finances of the first three rounds.

Thereafter, a project under Ernest and Young to act as the country co-ordinator for the Fund was instituted to manage disbursement and proper accountability of the funds under Round Two and Round Three. But now the Ministry of Finance says it will end the project.

At the same time, many suspects have been arrested over the scandal, while others are under trial for misappropriation of funds, including two former health ministers Jim Muhwezi and Mike Mukula.

The government has put in place procedures for planning, procurement, contract management, monitoring, evaluation and finance management, said Charles Byaruhanga an official from the Ministry of Finance.

"These are long term institutional arrangements by the government so we do not need the project anymore,' said Byaruhanga.

Uganda: Global Fund - Country to Wait for Round 9

AIDS/HIV