Kampala: The Government of Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
This was during the national commemoration of the International Candlelight Memorial, held for the first time at the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) headquarters in Ntinda.
Presiding over the ceremony, Minister for the Presidency Hon. Milly Babalanda commended the UAC for its continued leadership and coordination of Uganda’s multi-sectoral response, which has seen HIV prevalence drop from 18% in the 1990s to 5.1% in 2023.
Hon. Babalanda also lauded President Yoweri Museveni’s decades-long commitment to fighting the epidemic, recalling his early mobilisation efforts in response to the first diagnosed cases in Rakai District in the 1980s. She stressed the government’s unwavering resolve, even in the face of reduced donor funding.
“This disease has caused untold suffering and remains one of the most expensive to manage,” she noted. “But government remains determined to ensure uninterrupted HIV services for the 1.4 million Ugandans living with the virus.”
The Minister also highlighted national initiatives such as the Parish Development Model, Universal Primary and Secondary Education, and livelihood programmes as tools to empower vulnerable groups, especially those affected by HIV.
Dr. Nelson Musoba, Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission, reported encouraging progress under the Presidential Fast Track Initiative, including a 65% decline in annual AIDS-related deaths – from 37,000 in 2016 to 19,000 in 2023 – and a reduction in new HIV infections from 52,000 in 2022 to 38,000 in 2023.
He praised youth-led efforts that culminated in the national commemoration, citing health camps, awareness drives, and community events across the country.
“We have seen a strong shift in youth participation and increased collaboration across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies,” Dr. Musoba said, pointing to a 0.1% budget allocation by MDAs to HIV mainstreaming as a positive signal for sustainable financing.
UAC Board Chairperson Dr. Eddie Mukooyo emphasized the critical role of policy alignment in maintaining momentum.
He revealed that the Commission is currently reviewing the National HIV Strategic Plan, the National HIV Policy, and the National Research Agenda to better position Uganda’s HIV response within global targets.
“We must all reflect on our role in sustaining the response—whether as individuals, communities, or institutions,” he urged.
The event, observed under the global theme “We Remember, We Take Action, We Live Beyond HIV” and Uganda’s national theme “Ending AIDS by 2030: Building a Sustainable HIV Response”, brought together government officials, development partners, health experts, and representatives of people living with HIV to reflect on the country’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The event concluded with a moment of silence in memory of those who have lost their lives to AIDS, and the recognition of two individuals for their exceptional contributions to Uganda’s HIV response.
First commemorated globally in 1983, the International Candlelight Memorial continues to serve as a powerful platform to honour lives lost, support people living with HIV, and galvanise global action to eliminate AIDS.
