Uganda: Uganda Must Rethink HIV Testing to Reach Those Who Don't Know Their Status-Experts

What the report says

Public health specialists in Uganda are urging a rethink of HIV testing strategies after preliminary results from the 2025 Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment suggested that a significant number of people living with HIV still do not know their status. The remarks, reported by The Independent in Kampala and distributed by AllAfrica, come as the country continues to improve treatment coverage and viral suppression, but faces a persistent testing gap.

Kenneth Mwehonge of the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development said authorities should move beyond relying mainly on health facilities and instead focus on communities and higher-burden areas where undiagnosed infections are more likely. He also suggested drawing on contact-tracing approaches used in outbreak responses. Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine said people who are unaware of their status remain the largest unresolved challenge in the HIV response.

The survey was carried out from July to September 2025 by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Health, Makerere University School of Public Health and the Uganda Virus Research Institute. It covered most of the sampled households nationwide. Officials said the findings point to the need for more targeted testing options, including HIV self-testing, to help Uganda reach its goal of getting more people to know their status by 2030.

The article also reported regional differences, with the highest prevalence in southwestern Uganda and lower rates in Karamoja and West Nile. It said women continue to carry a heavier burden than men, underscoring the need for interventions tailored to different populations.