Bushenyi in urgent need of injectable HIV prevention drug to curb infections

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As government finalises the roll-out of the long-lasting injectable HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir in March next year, leaders in Bushenyi have asked the Ministry of Health to prioritise the district to help curb its alarmingly high HIV prevalence.

Local government minister Raphael Magyezi said priority should be given to the areas of Ishaka Kizinda, Butale, Mashonga, Rwentuha and Akashanda, which he described as real hotspots of the pandemic.

The Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi, addressing guests during the World AIDS Day commemorations in Kizinda Town Council in Bushenyi on Monday. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

Bushenyi’s HIV prevalence stands at 8%, far above the national rate of 4.9%. Last year, the district recorded 250 new HIV infections, with Kizinda town council identified as a major hotspot.

Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug that offers up to 100 percent protection for high-risk individuals and requires only two injections each year.

To support the roll-out, the Global Fund has provided 38,000 doses, expected to benefit 19,000 high-risk individuals over a one-year period. These groups include commercial sex workers, fishermen, long-distance truck drivers and breastfeeding mothers.

Dr Nelson Musoba, director general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, said the available doses fall far short of what is needed to cover all vulnerable populations. He urged government to increase funding and resources to procure additional Lenacapavir doses.

Government has meanwhile strengthened the HIV response by approving a supplementary budget to fill gaps created by donor withdrawals.

These remarks were made during World AIDS Day commemorations held in Kizinda town council in Bushenyi district on December 1, 2025. This year’s national theme is: “Building a sustainable HIV response to end AIDS as a public health threat”.

Bishop for West Ankole, Amos Twinomujuni, with other religious leaders, pose for a group photo with the Vice President Jessica Alupo during WAD commemorations in Kizinda town council in Bushenyi district on Monday. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

The event was presided over by Vice President Jessica Alupo, who represented President Museveni.

The celebrations were attended by religious and cultural leaders, Ministry of Health technocrats and senior representatives from organisations such as UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA.

Magyezi also noted that district authorities will implement necessary measures, including by-laws and ordinances, to prevent truck drivers from parking along roads in the town for safety and public health reasons. He said councils will be encouraged to pass resolutions establishing suitable parking areas for trucks.

He added that the district chairperson and resident commissioner have already been instructed to identify an appropriate site for a truck parking yard, which will stop trucks from parking along the stretch between Kampala University and Kizinda town council.

Magyezi further urged religious leaders to include HIV and AIDS prevention messages in their sermons.

The Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, Amos Twinomujuni, agreed, saying there is a need to design HIV awareness education that reflects the realities of local communities, helping to eliminate stigma, discrimination and other barriers that prevent effective action.

He added that faith institutions are committed to working with government and partners to build responsible and responsive systems, ensuring all stakeholders are engaged with a long-term perspective of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

Bishop Twinomujuni also noted that once communities become knowledgeable and confident about HIV and AIDS, their quality of life will improve as they acknowledge the problem collectively and begin to take action.

HIV burden

The National 2025 HIV Estimates Report shows that new HIV infections have declined from 96,000 in 2010 to 37,000. Uganda has also registered a 64% decline in annual AIDS-related deaths, from 56,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024.

Currently, 1.5 million people are living with HIV in Uganda, of whom 930,000 are women, and 570,000 are men.