An analysis of HIV/AIDS policy development and implementation at two Ugandan Universities

Abstract

The main objectives of the study were to analyse the process involved in HIV/AIDS policy development and implementation at two selected universities in Uganda. The rationale for the study was to describe the policy development process and to identify how such institutional policies can be planned, operationalised, monitored and evaluated. The study used a qualitative approach which involved key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The selected institutions were Makerere University Kampala (MUK)and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). The findings show that MUST have a comprehensive HIV/AIDS Institutional Policy (HIP) which followed several stages during policy development. The basic stages identified were policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation and policy evaluation. The findings also show that MUST have a comprehensive implementation plan. In contrast, MUK had no record of the HIV/AIDS institutional policy development process. However, MUK had implemented the policy successfully through the University Hospital and Gender Mainstreaming Division.