'Uganda on course to eliminate HIV and AIDS by 2030'

Uganda is making significant progress in its fight against HIV and AIDS, with a sharp decline in AIDS-related deaths reflecting a strong commitment to achieving the UNAIDS 2030 target of eliminating HIV as a public health threat.

Jackie Makhoka, the UNAIDS country director, highlighted Uganda’s remarkable progress over the past decade. She noted that in 2010, the country reported approximately 200,000 deaths from AIDS-related complications. By 2023, that number had dropped to just 20,000.

Makhoka stressed that Uganda is on course to meet the target of ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

She made the remarks during the annual Candlelight Memorial Day commemoration held at the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) offices on May 16 2025, where officials gathered to honour those lost to HIV and AIDS and reflect on the country’s progress.

The day began with a five-kilometre HIV and AIDS awareness walk, which drew hundreds of participants. The walk started at Constitutional Square in the city centre and ended at the Uganda AIDS Commission headquarters in Ntinda, Nakawa Division.

Free HIV testing was also offered at City Square, as well as at Nakawa and Ntinda markets, to encourage the public to know their HIV status.

“So, Uganda is on track to meet the target. We believe that Uganda is one of those countries that by 2030 will declare an end to HIV and AIDS as a public health threat,” Makhoka noted.

While the reduction in deaths is a promising sign, she emphasised that the gains made are fragile and that sustaining progress requires ongoing collaboration among all stakeholders, including civil society, community leaders, and the wider population.

“We must continue to work together to protect the progress we’ve achieved,” she added.
Makhoka said the government has committed to allocating domestic resources to ensure the AIDS programme continues uninterrupted, despite challenges in global funding.

HIV testing

Dr Nelson Musoba, Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission, urged Ugandans to get tested for HIV, know their status, and start treatment immediately if found positive.

“We all need to know that HIV and AIDS are still here with us. There are still new infections. Know your status. If you are HIV positive, start on treatment immediately because there are benefits to starting on treatment immediately,” he said.

He explained that in the past, patients had to wait for their CD4 count (a measure of the body’s defence mechanism) to drop before starting treatment because the older drugs were highly toxic.

“Now, from science, we have very modern drugs. They are very efficacious, they have low toxicity and provide benefits to patients,” he added.

Musoba also underscored the importance of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) pills for high-risk populations, such as long-distance truck drivers and miners, who face a higher risk of HIV transmission due to the nature of their work and living conditions.

“We have known HIV prevention methodologies, including our old and known ABC (Abstinence, being faithful and being able to use condoms consistently and correctly and also ensuring that we live in a stigma-free environment) approach. There is also what is known as the PrEP, which is a prevention methodology targeting those who are at risk of acquiring HIV,” he noted.

He said PrEP is essential for anyone at risk of contracting the virus.

Musoba added that Uganda has significantly reduced HIV prevalence, dropping from double-digit figures—about 18% in the 1990s—to 5.1% today.

Challenges among young people

Despite these achievements, Uganda continues to face challenges in preventing new infections, particularly among young people.

Musoba said recent data showed that about 38,000 new HIV infections were recorded in 2023, with nearly a third involving adolescents aged 15–24. Most of these new infections among young people were in girls, highlighting their vulnerability.

He described the figures as alarming and stressed the need to ensure that youth are educated, empowered, and protected from HIV, especially as the country continues to modernise and industrialise.

Impact of COVID-19

Musoba said the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the delivery of HIV services, particularly affecting school-aged children and adolescents who missed out on critical information and care during lockdowns.

He noted that the delays prevented Uganda from achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, which aim to ensure that 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% of those diagnosed receive treatment, and 90% of those treated achieve viral suppression.

He also addressed concerns about the impact of changes in US HIV/AIDS funding policy. While the shift caused some disruptions, Uganda continues to receive support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the government has stepped in to fill the gaps.

Musoba said the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance have identified domestic resources in the national budget to ensure uninterrupted access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and other HIV-related services.

“We have worked with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, and they have identified part of that support. In the new budget, we have assurance from the Government of Uganda that the gaps will be addressed and that there will be no gaps in ARVs and other drugs as a result of the US Government policy review,” he explained.