Health 29 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Sees 100 Daily HIV Infections as Experts Push for Women's Empowerment
Uganda records around 100 new HIV infections daily, with women and young people bearing the heaviest burden, according to health officials. Leaders at the Uganda AIDS Commission emphasize empowering women as key agents to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-records-100-hiv-infections-daily-aids-commission-5440260
Uganda continues to battle HIV/AIDS, registering approximately 100 new infections each day in 2024, as revealed by Ministry of Health data cited during the launch of Candlelight Memorial 2026 Candlelight Memorial Day.
Dr. Nelson Musoba, Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), highlighted progress with adult HIV prevalence at 4.9%, a 69% drop in new infections since 2010, and AIDS deaths falling from 56,000 to 20,000 annually. Despite this, about 37,000 new cases occur yearly, mostly among 15-24-year-olds, with women facing higher rates at 6.4% versus 3.4% for men.
Musoba urged shifting from viewing women as vulnerable to empowering them as leaders, addressing barriers like stigma, poverty, and gender inequalities such as early marriages and widow inheritance. The event, themed ‘Ending AIDS by 2030: Embracing the Role of Women,’ will take place next month at Kitante Hill Secondary School in Wakiso.
UNAIDS Country Director Jacqueline Makokha noted eastern and southern Africa’s role as the epidemic’s epicenter, with 63% of sub-Saharan Africa’s 2024 new infections among women and girls. She stressed community-led, women-centered strategies and adopting the 2026-2031 global AIDS plan.
UAC Board Chairperson Dr. Ruth Ssenyonyi and Village Journeys Africa CEO Maery Mungati called for tackling stigma, providing services in marketplaces across cities like Jinja and Gulu, and empowering female leaders against harmful cultural practices.
This article is based on a report from Daily Monitor (Uganda).