New figures from the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) reveal that in 2025, Uganda recorded 34,000 new HIV infections. Young people aged 15 to 24 accounted for 38 per cent of these infections, with young women making up 77 per cent of the total. This highlights the disproportionate burden of the epidemic on adolescent girls and young women. The figures were presented at a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday.
According to the UAC, approximately 1.5 million Ugandans aged 15 and above are living with HIV, representing a national prevalence rate of 5.9 per cent. When children aged zero to 14 are included, the number rises to approximately 1.57 million. Despite the persistent burden, Uganda has made significant progress in controlling the epidemic since 2010. New infections have declined by 64 per cent, while AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 66 per cent to 19,000.
Mother-to-child HIV transmission has reduced by 78 per cent to 4,400 infections. Progress in HIV treatment has been encouraging, with 85.3 per cent of adults living with HIV knowing their status. Of those who know their status, 99.1 per cent are receiving treatment, while 96.5 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. However, the Commission warns that the epidemic remains disproportionately concentrated among women, young people, urban populations, and key populations.
The Commission has identified rising multiple sexual partnerships, low condom use during high-risk sex, and increasing sexual violence as factors undermining efforts to reduce new infections. Geographically, Fort Portal City has the highest HIV prevalence at 16.7 per cent, followed by Kalangala at 12.1 per cent and Kabarole at 10.7 per cent. Regionally, South Western Uganda leads with a prevalence of eight per cent, while Karamoja has the lowest at 1.3 per cent.
Children also remain a major concern in the national response. Only 71 per cent of children living with HIV have been diagnosed, while 88 per cent of those receiving treatment have achieved viral suppression, compared with 96.5 per cent among adults. The Commission attributes some of these gaps to mothers acquiring HIV or dropping out of treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding, exposing their children to the risk of infection.
The UAC warns that unless new infections decline significantly, Uganda risks missing its 2030 target of reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 90 per cent. To address these challenges, the Commission’s board chairperson, Canon Dr Ruth Senyonyi, will launch the 2026 National HIV and AIDS Symposium. The symposium will take place from November 16 to 18 at the Pharmacology Grounds of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
The symposium will bring together scientists, students, and HIV programme implementers to examine why the country is still struggling to achieve some of its targets. With donor funding declining, the meeting will also provide a platform to discuss sustainable financing for Uganda’s HIV response. The event will feature over 120 research abstracts and the commemoration of Philly Lutaaya Memorial Day, honouring pioneers who helped fight HIV-related stigma.
Key points
- Three in four young people newly infected with HIV in Uganda are young women.
- Uganda has made significant progress in controlling the epidemic since 2010, with new infections declining by 64 per cent.
- The country risks missing its 2030 target of reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 90 per cent unless new infections decline significantly.
