Experts raise alarm over high HIV prevalence in Fort Portal ahead of Condom Day

Health experts and government officials have raised concerns over the high prevalence of HIV in Fort Portal City, warning that the situation remains far above the national average.

Speaking ahead of the International Condom Day celebrations scheduled for February 13, health ministry programme officer Boniface Epoku described Fort Portal as a key target area of concern, citing alarming statistics.

“Out of every 100 people in Fort Portal, 12 are infected with HIV. This is worrying when you compare it with the national average, where about four out of every 100 people are infected,” Epoku said.

He attributed the issue to high tourism activity in the city, the cultural belief that 'a man shouldn't be rejected by a woman’ as commonly cited by women in the Toro region, and various beliefs that the use of condoms deprives sexual pleasure.

He also attributed a significant reduction in new infections to condom use, noting that prevention efforts were yielding results where uptake was high.

“We have been able to attribute about 49 per cent of HIV infections averted to the use of condoms, and condoms contribute about 59 per cent in averting STIs. By 2030, we aim to ensure that HIV is history in this country,” he said.

Epoku emphasised that condoms remain a critical pillar in Uganda’s HIV prevention strategy, especially as STI rates continue to rise.

“If we continue using condoms consistently, by 2030 about 15 per cent of infections will be averted,” he said, adding that the Government has committed shillings one billion towards condom procurement.

He also revealed that the Government is working closely with the Toro Kingdom to ensure a successful International Condom Day, which will be marked in Fort Portal on February 13 as a national event.

At the subnational level, the HIV epidemic is geographically diverse, with prevalence ranging from 7.7 per cent in central to 2.3 per cent in West Nile, while Fort Portal city had the highest prevalence at 14 per cent according to the country's 2025 HIV estimates.

The event also attracted officials from AHF Uganda Cares, Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), civil society organisations and development partners, who underscored the central role of condoms in reversing new HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) trends.

 Prevention programmes

Health ministry health services director general Dr Charles Olaro reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to financing prevention programmes and maintaining a steady supply of condoms across the country.

“The Government has committed financing, and we are working with other partners to ensure condoms are available,” Olaro said.

“I want to speak to young people. Our parents ensured that they produced safe children, but they have been let down by their children,” he said.

He stressed that free government-provided condoms remain safe and effective, urging the public to use them without fear or stigma.

“As government, we have committed that the supply of condoms will be available. The ministry will continue to ensure awareness, and I encourage the media to send out this information,” he said.

Condom uptake and disposal challenges

From the policy and coordination side, Charles Otai, a monitoring and evaluation officer at UAC, said Uganda has made notable progress but still faces major gaps in condom uptake.

“Since 2010, we have reduced HIV infections by about 61 per cent by championing the ABC approach, and now we are pushing condom use even more,” Otai said.

However, he noted that condom use remains low compared to neighbouring countries.

He cited a recent survey that indicated that only about 17 per cent of respondents reported using condoms during their last sexual encounter, compared to Kenya at 67 per cent and Tanzania at 47 per cent.

Health ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyona raised another emerging concern regarding environmental safety.

“There is a need for proper mechanisms for disposing of used condoms. Disposal should be our concern for the betterment of our environment,” Ainebyona said.

Additionally, at the community level, challenges remain deeply rooted. Bwire Henry, a KCCA official and condom champion for Kawempe Division, said religious and cultural beliefs continue to hinder condom acceptance.

“Kawempe is almost entirely Muslim, and due to religious affiliation, it is hard for information to penetrate. Most Muslims do not accept condom use,” Bwire said.

However, he said they have identified hotspots where they now place condoms, even though disposal remains a challenge.

Haruna Semuwemba, the prevention manager at AHF Uganda Cares, echoed similar sentiments, noting that condoms offer up to 95 percent protection against STIs, including HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

“You just have to use the condom consistently and correctly to fully benefit from this simple yet powerful tool,” Semuwemba said, speaking on behalf of Henry Magala, the Country Programme Director of Uganda Cares.

Launched by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in 2009, International Condom Day, celebrated annually on February 13, promotes condoms as the world’s most effective option for preventing HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancies under the message.

This year’s celebrations will take place at Muchwa Grounds in Fort Portal and at Namirembe Landing Site in Masaka.

The event is expected to attract key leaders, including the Prime Minister of the Tooro Kingdom, Rt Hon Calvin Rwomire Amstrom Akiiki, Dr Andrew Akiiki, Director of Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, district leaders and other stakeholders in HIV prevention.

HIV prevalence in other areas

According to the country's 2025 HIV estimates, Gulu city’s prevalence stood at 7.5 per cent, paper at 8.4 per cent, Kyotera 12.6 per cent, Kaese 2.4 per cent and Wakiso 7.1 per cent. 

Among adults of 15 to 49 years of age, women had the highest prevalence rate at 6.4 per cent, while men at 3.4 per cent.

On a general rate, HIV prevalence stands at 4.9 per cent.
Estimated People Living with HIV (PLHIV) stands at 1,527,238 as of 2024 statistics. 37,000 people became newly infected in 2024.