Health
Stigma and complacency hampering national HIV response, experts warn
“There are some HIV-response partners who do not want to hear anything to do with HIV, yet this is a national health issue that needs to be addressed,” said the senior manager of partnerships at the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), Tom Etti.
HIV response partners together with officials from Uganda AIDS Commission pose for a group photo after the orientation meeting. (Photo by Agnes Kyotalengerire)
By: Agnes Kyotalengerire, Journalist @New Vision
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Stigma and discrimination continue to persist within some segments of the community, where some people avoid HIV testing and treatment, thereby undermining the national HIV response.
“There are some HIV-response partners who do not want to hear anything to do with HIV, yet this is a national health issue that needs to be addressed,” said the senior manager of partnerships at the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), Tom Etti.
Etti further cited inadequate funding as another major obstacle. He said that when HIV response partners are asked to support coordination and dissemination of HIV activities, they often cite a lack of funds, yet HIV programming can be integrated into existing interventions within available resources.
Complacency was also identified as a major challenge, with some individuals continuing to engage in unprotected sex despite awareness of the risks.
“Sometimes when we sensitise men on the dangers of HIV, they say they would rather die than stop having sex," he noted and is quick to add: lately, the majority of the girls and young women fear pregnancy more than HIV.
“So, they will prevent pregnancy by taking the pill, other than having protected sex,” Etti noted.
This complacency is reflected in national statistics. In 2024, Uganda recorded 37,000 new HIV infections. Young people aged 15–24 accounted for 14,000 (45%) of these infections. Of this group, adolescent girls accounted for 11,000 (78%) compared to 3,000 (20%) among boys. Overall, four out of five young people infected are girls and young women.
The principal urban officer at the Ministry of Local Government, Edidah Busingye, said there is a need to intensify sensitisation and involve men more actively, as they are often responsible for transmitting the infection to women.
The team leader of the Public Health Inter-religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Charles Serwanja, faulted parents for being too busy and neglecting their parenting responsibilities.
“Sometimes when we sensitise men on the dangers of HIV, they say they would rather die than stop having sex," he noted and is quick to add: lately, the majority of the girls and young women fear pregnancy more than HIV.
“So, they will prevent pregnancy by taking the pill, other than having protected sex,” Etti noted.
This complacency is reflected in national statistics. In 2024, Uganda recorded 37,000 new HIV infections. Young people aged 15–24 accounted for 14,000 (45%) of these infections. Of this group, adolescent girls accounted for 11,000 (78%) compared to 3,000 (20%) among boys. Overall, four out of five young people infected are girls and young women.
The principal urban officer at the Ministry of Local Government, Edidah Busingye, said there is a need to intensify sensitisation and involve men more actively, as they are often responsible for transmitting the infection to women.
The team leader of the Public Health Inter-religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Charles Serwanja, faulted parents for being too busy and neglecting their parenting responsibilities.
"If we are to curb new HIV infections among the young people, the fight must start in homes with parents sensitising their children against the dangers of engaging in sexual relationships," Seewanja noted.
Etti also highlighted challenges in reporting, coordination gaps, and harmful cultural practices that continue to fuel HIV infections.
This was during an orientation meeting for HIV response partners on the updated partnership coordination mechanism held at the Uganda AIDS Commission on Friday, June 12, 2026.
The meeting aimed to improve coordination and strengthen resource mobilisation for the national HIV response at all levels.
In 2025, the Uganda AIDS Commission conducted a review of the national partnership mechanism to assess its effectiveness.
Uganda’s national HIV prevalence now stands at 4.9%. AIDS-related deaths have declined from 54,000 to 20,000 over the same period. About 1.5 million Ugandans are living with HIV, with 1.3 million currently on antiretroviral therapy.
Etti also highlighted challenges in reporting, coordination gaps, and harmful cultural practices that continue to fuel HIV infections.
This was during an orientation meeting for HIV response partners on the updated partnership coordination mechanism held at the Uganda AIDS Commission on Friday, June 12, 2026.
The meeting aimed to improve coordination and strengthen resource mobilisation for the national HIV response at all levels.
In 2025, the Uganda AIDS Commission conducted a review of the national partnership mechanism to assess its effectiveness.
Uganda’s national HIV prevalence now stands at 4.9%. AIDS-related deaths have declined from 54,000 to 20,000 over the same period. About 1.5 million Ugandans are living with HIV, with 1.3 million currently on antiretroviral therapy.