Uganda has registered a major decline in AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections, according to the latest report from the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC).
Presenting to Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Matters on October 15, 2025, Tom Etti, UAC’s Director for Partnerships, said annual AIDS deaths have dropped by 64%, from 56,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024. New HIV infections have also fallen sharply from 96,000 to 37,000 during the same period.
“These are impressive gains that reflect Uganda’s resilience and the strong leadership behind our national HIV response,” Etti told legislators.
The report shows Uganda is close to achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with 94% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 90% receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 96% of those on treatment virally suppressed. Currently, over 1.4 million Ugandans are on ART.
Etti said the progress provides a strong foundation for Uganda’s goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, under the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative.
However, the report also reveals that the epidemic remains uneven across regions, with central and peri-urban districts carrying the highest burdens. Wakiso District tops the list with 180,300 people living with HIV and 3,950 new infections recorded in 2024, followed by Kampala (73,600 PLHIV), Buikwe (30,100), Mukono (26,800), Luwero (25,000), and Mubende (24,000).
Some urban centres show alarmingly high prevalence rates, with Fort Portal City at 14%, Kyotera at 13%, and both Kalangala District and Soroti City at around 12%, indicating persistent localised transmission risks.
During the session, Committee Chairperson Sarah Kayagi raised concerns about the 4,700 children still being born with HIV despite ongoing prevention efforts.
“We appreciate the progress, but it’s deeply worrying that thousands of children are still infected at birth. Something is failing in the mother-to-child prevention chain,” Kayagi said.
She also highlighted the gender gap in new infections, revealing that 21,000 of the 37,000 new cases recorded last year were among young girls, compared to 11,000 among boys.
Etti acknowledged these gaps, noting that while the maternal HIV response has improved, mother-to-child transmission still requires intensified interventions, especially in areas with limited antenatal care and delayed ART initiation for pregnant women.
The UAC Sustainability Roadmap was also presented, outlining plans to reduce donor dependence and boost domestic HIV financing. The goal is for Uganda to fund 60% of non-commodity HIV costs domestically by 2027, and 80% by 2030, using mechanisms like a National Health Insurance Scheme, health bonds, and debt-to-health swaps.
“By strengthening partnerships, investing in prevention, and integrating HIV into all development programmes, Uganda can end AIDS by 2030,” Etti reaffirmed.
During the discussions, MPs Michael Kakembo (NUP, Entebbe Municipality) and Denis Oneka Lit (FDC, Kitgum Municipality) commended UAC’s achievements but urged for increased public awareness and targeted male engagement.
Kakembo noted that condom use has declined, calling for more creative awareness campaigns — even jokingly suggesting outreach in bars.
“People think HIV is no longer a threat. We need to flood them with information again,” he said.
Oneka Lit emphasized the need for more tailored programs to encourage men to test and seek treatment, as their infection rates remain high.
As Uganda edges closer to epidemic control, the challenge now lies in bridging the remaining prevention gaps and ensuring that no one, especially children and young women is left behind.
