Uganda: Why HIV Prevalence Is Highest Among the Middle-Aged in Uganda

What the report says

Uganda’s latest national HIV survey points to a shift in the epidemic toward older adults and women, according to reporting by The Independent (Kampala) distributed through AllAfrica. The article says Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi released findings from the Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment 2025 at the Uganda Media Centre, following earlier rounds of the survey in 2016/17 and 2020/21. The results show overall adult HIV prevalence at 5.9% among people aged 15 and older, with 7.3% for women and 4.1% for men, representing about 1.5 million adults living with HIV.

The report highlights that prevalence remains low among teenagers but rises sharply in adulthood, peaking among middle-aged women and men. It also notes that national prevalence has stayed roughly stable since the previous survey, suggesting progress in treatment and viral suppression even as HIV remains a significant public health issue.

Regional differences are also pronounced. The article says prevalence is lowest in Karamoja and highest in the South Western region, with Buganda sub-regions and Kampala also recording notable rates. President Yoweri Museveni’s earlier call for local leaders in Tooro to address high HIV prevalence is presented as consistent with the survey’s message that responses now need to be more targeted.

The piece argues that prevention, testing and treatment efforts should increasingly focus on adults in their working and family-raising years, especially in higher-burden areas. More broadly, the findings underscore the continuing economic and social impact of HIV in Uganda, even as the country has made gains over past decades.