Health 17 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Launches Long-Acting Injectable Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention
The Ugandan government has introduced Lenacapavir, a highly effective injectable PrEP administered every six months, to bolster HIV prevention efforts. Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng launched the drug in Lira, targeting high-risk groups in a phased rollout across 300 facilities by end of 2026. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-launches-injectable-hiv-prevention-drug-5427786
Uganda’s Ministry of Health unveiled Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-acting injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), in Lira city. Administered twice yearly via abdominal injection, the drug proved over 99% effective in trials conducted in Uganda and South Africa.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng described the launch as a pivotal step toward eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It complements existing strategies like condoms, voluntary medical male circumcision, and oral PrEP.
The rollout starts this April in 103 trained facilities, expanding to 300 by December 2026, with priority on high-burden districts and vulnerable groups such as adolescent girls, young women, and high-risk populations.
Dr. Robert Mutumba, head of the AIDS Control Programme, clarified that Lenacapavir prevents HIV but not pregnancy or other STIs, and is not a vaccine.
Uganda has cut new HIV infections from 96,000 in 2010 to 37,000 by late 2025, treating over 1.4 million people, yet challenges like stigma and inequality persist.
The initiative draws support from partners including the Global Fund, US Government, WHO, and Gilead. US Deputy Chief of Mission Mikael Cleverley hailed it as American scientific innovation, pledging to reach three million people in high-burden countries by 2028.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)