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FORT PORTAL - Fort Portal City is the region with the highest HIV, the Uganda Aids Commissioner has revealed.

Currently, Fort Portal City is the region with the highest HIV prevalence based on the 2023 data.

It is followed by Mbarara City, although the high HIV prevalence has also been reported in Northern corridor, especially along the highways where there is high commercialisation and sex work, and the lake regions have also recorded high HIV prevalence rates.

Interfacing with Members of Parliament on Thursday, May 24, 2024, Uganda Aids Commission Director General, Dr. Nelson Musoba also raised concern about the high prevalence rates amongst young people and older persons between 40-50 years.

He attributed the trend to the cross-generational sex, saying the girl child is at a higher risk due to low bargaining power to ensure practice of safe sex.

“There is a very high rate of infections amongst young people but also predominantly amongst the girl child. The girl child is three times more affected than the boy child but also the older men in their 40s and 50s because of the transgenerational sex between the older men and the young girls. The young girl has no power of negotiation, first of all, somebody is interacting with you because they have given you money, they exercise a lot of power,  you have few choices in terms of protection," Dr. Musoba explained.

Dr Musoba warned about the likelihood of increased prevalence rates of HIV/AIDs infections in Hoima City, as Uganda moves towards the commercialization of its oil and gas.

He issued the warning while speaking to journalists at Parliament, after his meeting with MPs on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).

He noted that prevalence rates are usually determined by activities taking place in different regions and with the looming commercialization of oil production in Hoima City, many workers will leave their spouses' homes and interact with people whose HIV/AIDs status they aren't aware of, thus increasing their risk to being infected with HIV/AIDs.