The Uganda National Roads Authority  (UNRA) is responsible for managing, maintaining, and developing the national road network across Uganda. UNRA became a legal entity in 2006, but officially began operation on 1st July 2008. UNRA’s Mission is to develop and maintain a national road network that is responsive to the economic development needs of Uganda, to the safety of all road users, and to the environmental sustainability of the national road corridors. UNRA is therefore, committed to maximizing the health and safety of all those using or affected by the national road network.

Consistent with the above, Upper Nile Conservation (UNCI) was nominated as a service provider (NSP) to undertake consultancy services for awareness creation and management of risks associated with HIV/AIDS, Gender, Gender-Based Violence, Violence Against Children, Occupational (VAC) and Community Health and Safety (OSH) on the upgrading of Tororo-Busia Road (26Km) and Mayuge and Busia Town Roads (18Km). China Railway I8th Bureau Group Co Ltd as the main contractor while the project works shall be supervised by the UNRA Construction and Supervision Unit (CSU) on this Road project. The objectives of the project as per the contract signed by the NSP include (i) reduce the risk of transfer of HIV/AIDS virus among construction workers, their families and the local community; (ii) raise awareness among construction workers and the local community on the risk of HIV/AIDS infection; (iii) reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS among construction workers and the local community; (iv) promote voluntary early diagnosis in the contractor workforce and the neighboring local communities; assist affected individuals to access care, counseling and treatment; reduce gender-based discrimination and violence in the contractor’s workforce and the local communities through Gender Based Violence (GBV) awareness; (v) promote gender and child protection awareness in the contractor’s work force and the local communities in project area and promote Health and safety including road safety in the contractor’s work force and local communities along the project area.

There are four major thematic focuses for NSP which include (1) HIV/AIDS awareness and control among the workforce and communities; (2) gender mainstreaming and prevention of Gender Based Violence; (3) Child Care and Protection; and (4) community and Occupational Health and Safety.

UNCI applied a well-tailored technical approaches and methodologies which guided a series of the planned activities.

UNCI conducted a situational analysis to get current information to inform the writing of the inception report, conducted a Baseline that guided the operated functionality of the fully fledged HIV/AIDS clinic on camp site and community engagements. The following were results achieved during this period. UNCI sensitized a total of 2,271 project workers with 667, females and 1,604 males. UNCI tested a total of 2,368 while in the community, a total of 186 males and 56 females we tested and counselled.

Concerning the ICE materials, 4,168 pieces. On condom distribution, a total of 110,928 were distributed and refilled. At the clinic, manor injuries were registered, with a total of 68 people where, 64 were males and 4 were females. Other health conditions were also treated at the clinic, with a total of 749 patients, this number incudes 749 males and 176 females. The tool box training made a total of 994 trainees.

During this period, UNCI learnt that, stigmatization is an issue in the community/project workers, outreaches are mostly liked by the community and religious leaders weaken the fight against HIV/AIDS. UNCI, experienced a number of challenges namely: Transportation of staff to the community, delayed transport, tracking of defaulters and misconceptions about the virus. UNCI recommend the following: Increase outreach to rural and marginalized populations with mobile testing units and awareness campaigns, develop programs targeting youth to challenge gender stereotypes early, foster a sense of ownership within the community by involving members in planning and implementing intervention, need for the integration of HIV testing with other health initiatives (e.g., malaria or TB screenings) to normalize the practice, Incorporation of community-specific issues or success stories to strengthen engagement and avail more time to the NSP during the Tool box training.