Programme responses for MSM in Uganda

Programme responses for MSM in Uganda are compounded by the relative “invisibility” of this population in
society. Major obstacles to more targeted and relevant programmes for MSM include high levels of perceived and
actual homophobia. Cultural and social norms that invoke “morality” result in high levels of stigma and discrimination,
and are perpetuated by those who fear a loss of political capital.
Although the Ministry of Health recognizes that MSM are among the most-at-risk populations in Uganda (along
with sex workers, fishing communities, truckers and others), sufficient resources are currently not devoted to MSM
in the national programme. This may change in the future; small-scale interventions are currently under way and
consultations with “MSM leaders” are in place.
5.1.6 High-income countries: the “one-stop shop” model
“One-stop shopping” clinics for MSM have been established in many cities in high-income countries. In these
clinics, all services that may be needed are provided at one visit. Each visit is also used as an opportunity to
reinforce basic prevention messages. The one-stop shop is usually a gay-identified service. How well the service
works for MSM who do not identify themselves as gay has always been a question in these countries, and may be
even more important in low- and middle-income ones, where exclusive MSM behaviour is less frequent and where
social identification as being “gay” is less common than the behaviour.
The Consultation heard two presentations on the “one-stop shop” model in high-resource settings – London, UK
and Seattle, USA.