Uganda: Uganda's Fight Against HIV Is Far From Over

What the report says

Uganda’s latest national HIV survey suggests the country has made strong gains in treatment but is still falling short on diagnosis, according to The Independent (Kampala) in material carried by AllAfrica. Preliminary results from the 2025 Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment, released by the Ministry of Health on Oct. 1 and based on fieldwork from July to September 2025, estimate that about 1.496 million adults in Uganda are living with HIV. Overall adult prevalence was reported at 5.9%, with women at 7.3% and men at 4.1%.

The report says Uganda has surpassed the later steps of the 95-95-95 HIV targets among adults, but not the first. An estimated 85.3% of adults living with HIV knew their status, below the 95% goal. Of those who knew, 99.1% were receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 96.5% of people on treatment had achieved viral suppression. Health officials said the findings highlight the remaining challenge of finding undiagnosed people and linking them to care.

The survey also suggests that earlier progress in lowering prevalence has slowed. Among adults aged 15 to 49, prevalence was 5.5%, unchanged from the 2020/2021 assessment. The article notes that stable prevalence does not by itself prove new infections are falling, because better treatment and longer survival can also keep the total number of people living with HIV high.

Officials said the results will help shape Uganda’s next phase of HIV response as the country works toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The report also points to uneven outcomes, including lower viral suppression among younger women, underscoring the need for targeted prevention and testing efforts.