Health 6 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Taso Faces Challenges Delivering HIV Drugs in Gulu Amid Funding Shortages
The Aids Support Organisation (Taso) is experiencing significant difficulties in distributing HIV/Aids drugs and supporting patients in the Gulu region due to a withdrawal of funding from the US government. The organization is implementing new strategies to ensure continued access to treatment. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/taso-delivers-hiv-drugs-in-gulu-amid-funding-gaps-5622524
The Aids Support Organisation (Taso) is currently grappling with substantial funding gaps that are hindering its ability to provide essential anti-retroviral drugs to people living with HIV/Aids in Uganda’s Acholi Sub-region. The withdrawal of financial support from the US government has severely impacted Taso’s operations, particularly its drug distribution clinics and mobile client-drug delivery program in Gulu.
Victor Rwengabo, the Uganda Aids Commission coordinator for Mid-North, acknowledged the decline in Taso’s activities. To address the revenue shortage and ensure drugs reach patients, Taso is adopting a new strategy. This involves integrating HIV/Aids services with other health services, a move designed to save resources and promote sustainability.
“HIV/Aids services are no longer standalone; they are encouraging integration. This saves on resources and ensures there is sustainability,” Rwengabo explained. He highlighted that routine screenings for diseases like TB can now incorporate HIV testing, allowing individuals in need of treatment to access it more readily.
Previously, the cessation of funding made it extremely difficult to conduct outreach programs and monitor patients’ adherence to treatment. Under the revised approach, patients are organizing themselves into groups to streamline drug access and reduce logistical expenses.
Despite these challenges, a recent funding acquisition by the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is anticipated to enhance clinical and treatment support for individuals with HIV in the region. Taso Gulu currently manages a registry of 8,872 patients actively receiving treatment, though an additional 146 patients have recently discontinued treatment and are proving difficult to locate.
As of June, Gulu City reported a total of 22,439 people living with HIV, with women constituting the majority. The region’s HIV prevalence rate stands at 9 percent, exceeding the national average of 7 percent.