📉 Uganda has reduced AIDS deaths by 64 percent in 14 years

• The number of annual AIDS deaths in Uganda has decreased from 56,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024.
• New HIV infections have fallen from 96,000 to 37,000 during the same period.
• 96 percent of those receiving antiretroviral treatment have the virus under control.

Close to the goal of epidemic control

Uganda has approached the UNAIDS target of 95-95-95. According to the latest report, 94 percent of people living with HIV have learned their status. 90 percent have received antiretroviral treatment (ART). Of those who have received treatment, 96 percent have gotten the virus under control.

Over 1.4 million Ugandans have received ART treatment. Tom Etti, Director for Partnership at the Uganda AIDS Commission, presented the figures to the Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS on October 15, 2025.

Uneven geographical distribution

Wakiso District has had the most people living with HIV, totaling 180,300 people. The district has also had the most new infections during the year up to December 2024, with 3,950 cases. Kampala District has had 73,600 people living with HIV and 1,840 new infections.

Buikwe District has had 30,100 people living with HIV and 600 new infections. Mukono District shows 26,800 people living with HIV and 570 new infections. Luwero District has had 25,000 people living with HIV and 560 new infections. Mubende District has had 24,000 people living with HIV and 540 new infections.

Certain areas have shown high figures for the proportion of adults with HIV. Fort Portal City has recorded 14 percent, Kyotera 13 percent. Kalangala District and Soroti City have both been around 12 percent.

Reduced dependence on donors

The Uganda AIDS Commission has developed a plan to reduce dependence on international donors and increase domestic financing. The plan has proposed that at least 60 percent of non-commodity HIV costs should be financed domestically by 2027. By 2030, at least 80 percent of recurrent HIV costs should be covered by domestic sources. This includes a functioning National Health Insurance Scheme and other financing instruments such as health bonds.

The Commission has worked toward the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. This is part of the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative that the country's government is driving.

Children and young women

During the year up to December 2024, an estimated 4,700 children between 0 and 14 years old have contracted HIV. Of the total 37,000 new infections last year, 21,000 were young women and 11,000 were young men.

Sarah Kayagi, chair of the parliamentary committee, has highlighted that the number of young women contracting HIV is twice as high as the number of young men. Etti has acknowledged that mother-to-child transmission requires more attention, particularly in regions where access to antenatal care and early ART treatment for pregnant mothers is uneven.

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