Our partners provide two key contributions. First, they bring in technical expertise that is not readily available within the military, allowing us t… - Evarlyne Buregyeya Asiimwe

Around 2012 to 2013, we began discussing with our partners the idea of creating a branded condom specifically for the military. It was essentially a form of social marketing. Although condoms were available, soldiers weren’t using them, despite knowing how to do so, and the same applied to the wider community. We wanted to understand why they weren’t using existing condoms, and we discovered that when people get accustomed to something, they often don’t value it. So, we thought, “Let’s create a condom that would appeal to them and encourage use.” We continued discussions with our partners, pushing for this idea. When PACE was securing their contract, we made it clear that we wanted this initiative included. The demand for this new product came directly from the military, an innovation led by us, but of course, we needed to bring in our partners as experts. The idea was to create a unique condom and brand it specifically for our soldiers. PACE helped bring this vision to life, and thus, the Ulinzi condom was born. The response was overwhelming, especially due to its camouflage design. People started to appreciate not only the design but also the quality. Soldiers and civilians alike began requesting them. Interestingly, when we distributed the Ulinzi condoms alongside other brands, like the pink ones, people would often refuse the pink ones in favor of Ulinzi. However, with the conclusion of the PACE contract, funding for these condoms also ended, and now they are out of stock. Despite this, whenever we visit communities, people still ask for Ulinzi condoms, saying, "We want Ulinzi." Civil-military relations are about creating synergy between the military and the civilian population. It’s about identifying areas where both sides can collaborate and work together, with either the civilian community contributing to the military, or the military supporting the civilians. The underlying principle is that we cannot exist in isolation. While the military runs its own health programs, there are specific services provided by the Ministry of Health that the military may not have the capacity to offer. One example of this collaboration is the "Tarehe Sita" initiative, where two weeks of the year are dedicated to providing community services. During this time, the military engages in activities such as offering healthcare, rehabilitating water sources, improving livelihoods, and working alongside the community. We also have our largest SACCO, Wazalendo, which focuses on training people in economic empowerment. While the military may have limited resources, we do our best to offer what we can in terms of health services. Tarehe Sita, which commemorates the birth of the UPDF, is a reminder that the army cannot function in isolation. The support of civilians was crucial in helping the military achieve its objectives, so it’s important that we give back and show appreciation for our shared existence. The Directorate of Health, along with our partners, plays a key role in this. As part of our community service efforts, we provide medical services, while the engineering brigades focus on infrastructure, sanitation, and town cleanups. The Directorate of HIV, under the medical services division, contributes by addressing health needs related to HIV, and our partners help implement these initiatives, ensuring that the UPDF fulfills its responsibility to give back to the community.

The primary challenge remains reaching soldiers stationed in very remote areas, especially since, during wartime, they are not allowed to move freely or travel alone. It’s not feasible to send just one soldier for testing; instead, we must move them in groups. To address this, we established teams equipped with security escorts to carry testing kits and reach soldiers in their deployed locations. Whether in a room, an open space, a tent, or even under a tree, these teams would set up a secure and professional environment to conduct testing. They ensured that the space was spacious and maintained confidentiality, even in such remote settings. Initially, we conducted one-on-one counseling and testing, but over time, as stigma decreased, we shifted to group counseling and testing, making the process more efficient and inclusive.

Our figures tend to be higher than those of the Ministry of Health, but as I mentioned earlier, it’s not just the soldiers. We serve soldiers, their families, and the surrounding communities. In fact, in many of our service areas, civilians make up the largest percentage of our clients. We often hear feedback from people who prefer the services provided by military facilities. In fact, we are performing exceptionally well in most of the programs we run.