Published on 26/10/2025
Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has expressed concern over the meagre funding allocated for the purchase of Lenacapavir, a new injectable drug designed to prevent HIV infection, warning that the available supply is far too limited to make a national impact.
According to the Commission, the 19,000 doses currently earmarked for Uganda can only protect about 40 people from infection, yet the country recorded 37,000 new HIV infections in 2024 alone.
The concern was raised by Dr. Daniel Byamukama, Head of HIV Prevention at UAC, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS and Other Related Matters on October 15, 2025, to present the current status of HIV in Uganda.
“The challenge is that we have the tools, but we aren’t implementing them at a scale large enough to make a substantive impact,” said Byamukama. “We have only received commitment to buy 19,000 doses for a year, which limits us to putting 19,000 people on treatment. To prevent one infection with Lenacapavir, at least 40 people need to be covered. With our current resources, the impact will be minimal.”
Byamukama urged government to increase funding to scale up the rollout, emphasizing that without adequate investment, Uganda risks missing the opportunity to significantly reduce new infections.
Committee Chairperson Sarah Kayagi asked for clarification on the new injectable drug, questioning whether it would replace the existing PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) drugs.
“We need to understand what this new drug is, how it is administered, and whether it will replace PrEP and PEP, or if the three will run concurrently,” Kayagi said. “Some people are already misinformed that the new injection is a cure.”
Dr. Byamukama explained that Lenacapavir is a PrEP tool, not a cure or vaccine, administered once every six months to prevent HIV infection. “A vaccine stimulates your body’s defence system, but this drug does not. Once you stop taking it, you are at risk again. It must be administered every six months,” he said.
During the meeting, the Commission reported that women accounted for 21,000 of Uganda’s 37,000 new infections in 2024, while men made up 11,000 and children 4,700.
UAC also noted that while people living with HIV who adhere to treatment and achieve viral suppression have minimal risk of transmitting the virus, it remains dangerous to assume zero risk. “In medicine, we never say never,” Byamukama cautioned. “Some people misinterpret this to mean they can engage in risky behaviour because they’re on treatment, yet not everyone adheres to medication or achieves viral suppression.”
UAC Director General Dr. Nelson Musoba lamented Uganda’s heavy dependence on foreign aid for HIV prevention and treatment, warning that despite progress made over four decades, the country has not yet achieved epidemic control. “Donor dependence remains high amid increasing fiscal pressures. Our gains are fragile, and systemic bottlenecks persist across all program areas,” he said.
According to UAC, the Consolidated Fund currently contributes only 13% of the national HIV expenditure, about UGX 315 billion, while donor funding accounts for the majority, roughly UGX 1.295 trillion by 2025. Most of this funding (51%) is directed toward Care and Treatment, prompting calls for Uganda to raise its domestic contribution to 40% by 2030 to bridge the financing gap.
The National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA) 2023 shows that 60% of HIV funding goes to Care and Treatment, while only 13% supports Prevention programs, raising concerns that Uganda is not investing enough to “close the tap” on new infections.
The Commission also revealed that 20,000 Ugandans died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2024, including 8,700 men, 8,300 women, and 3,100 children.
Ruth Ssenyonyi, Board Chairperson of UAC, told MPs that the persistence of HIV is partly due to the nature of transmission and societal taboos around discussing sexual behaviour. “HIV involves sexual pleasure and things people rarely discuss openly. It happens in private spaces beyond anyone’s control, whether you are a political leader or even the President,” Ssenyonyi said. “That is why it has taken us so long. It’s not that we aren’t doing enough, but HIV remains a very secretive and complex disease.”
