Hoima City HIV infections soar to 9.5% amid rising complacency and wild nightlife
The National HIV/AIDS prevalence stands at 4.7%, with an average of 6.3% among women and 3.3% among men and a total of 1.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
Uganda AIDS Commission and Parliamentary Committee officials on HIVAIDS with Bunyoro region leaders after the meeting. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
HOIMA - The rising HIV/AIDs infections in Bunyoro region have been attributed to alcoholism, complacency and a reckless lifestyle, especially at night, as Hoima city HIV prevalence hit 9.5%.
Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) officials revealed that Hoima city HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has surpassed the National and regional prevalence.
By December 2025, Hoima city HIV/AIDS prevalence was 9.5%, while the regional prevalence is 4.3%.
The National HIV/AIDS prevalence stands at 4.7%, with an average of 6.3% among women and 3.3% among men and a total of 1.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
According to the report which was presented to region stakeholder by Lylian Atatwebwa, the UAC advocacy manager, HIV Prevalence among people of age between 15 to 49 years in Hoima city is 9.5% followed by Masindi district which is 5.9, Kagadi district 4.5%, Hoima district 3.8% Kibaale 3.85, Kiryandongo is 3.8, Kikuube district is 3.5%, Buliisa 2.9%, Kakumiro is 3.3%.
She added that Masindi has the highest number of new infections with 320, Kakumiro has 300, Kagadi has 300, Kiryandongo has 190, Hoima city has 200, Hoima district has 150, Buliisa has 80, Kikuube has 220, and Kibaale has 130.
She added that the new infections at national level is 34000 with 12700 among the youth between 15 and 24 years, while people who die of HIV related disease are 19000.
She noted that Hoima city is among the 10 high HIV burden districts and called on leaders in the region to develop new strategies for combating the scourge.
The report was presented during a Bunyoro region stakeholder meeting that was organised by UAC and the Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS.
The engagement sought to collect views to fight the virus and assessing if the government interventions on HIV prevention are working. The meeting was held at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital on August 28th 2026.
He noted that they discovered that Alcoholism, complacency, prostitution and reckless lifestyle were major drivers of HIV/AIDs in the region.
“We got shocking and devastating information that alcohol consumption among the youth is one of the challenges fuelling HIV. These include night orgies in areas of Hoima city and Masindi, code names Pantless night and Nyash parties, which are one of the drivers of new HIV infection. People are complacent; they are no longer bothered,” he said.
However, Kisa called on the Ministry of Health to increase the supply of condoms to ensure easy access by the users and also to invent new friendly condoms.
He explained that during their tour, several youths complained to the committee that they are unable to use condoms because some have a bad smell while others are of small size.
Kikuube District Resident Commissioner Godwine Angalia blamed the increasing HIV/AIDs in the area on individual behaviours and called for behaviour change campaigns (sensitisations) to address the problem.