By As Uganda gears up for the National HIV and AIDS Symposium and World AIDS Day, new data from the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) reveals a troubling trend: adolescent girls and young women remain the most vulnerable group in the country’s HIV epidemic, despite national progress in reducing overall infections.
Uganda’s HIV prevalence has dropped to 4.9%, down from 18% in the 1980s. Yet UAC Director General Dr. Nelson Musoba warned that the gains mask a deep gender disparity one that continues to put girls at heightened risk.
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Of the 1.5 million people living with HIV in Uganda today, women account for the overwhelming majority at 930,000, compared to 570,000 men. New infections also remain disproportionately higher among adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24, a trend UAC attributes to unequal power dynamics, sexual violence, economic vulnerability, and low access to prevention services.
“Girls and young women still carry the heaviest burden of new HIV infections,” Dr. Musoba said during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre. “This is a gap we must close if we are to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”
While girls remain the most affected by new infections, men have the largest treatment gaps, a combination that further complicates Uganda’s prevention efforts. UAC reports that although 1.3 million people are on treatment, men are less likely to test, less likely to stay on medication, and more likely to die from AIDS-related illnesses.
The national progress toward the global 95-95-95 targets now stands at 94:90:97, but officials say these gains cannot be sustained if young women continue to acquire the virus at higher rates.
The Presidential Fast-Track Initiative (PFTI), launched in 2017 by President Yoweri Museveni, directly identifies adolescent girls and young women as a priority population. Its first pillar focuses on “closing the tap” on new infections in this age group by scaling up prevention tools, youth-friendly health services, and community engagement.
According to UAC, social norms, transactional relationships, limited negotiating power in sexual relationships, and low access to accurate information continue to drive infections among girls.
“We cannot talk about ending AIDS without addressing the real drivers affecting our girls,” Musoba emphasized.
The National HIV and AIDS Symposium scheduled for November 26–28 at Mbarara University of Science and Technology will spotlight the vulnerabilities of adolescent girls through research presentations, community dialogues, and youth-led advocacy sessions.
Activities include the 17th Joint AIDS Review, scientific meetings, Philly Lutaaya Day commemoration, HIV financing dialogues, and free HIV testing and counselling services. MUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika will preside over the opening ceremony.
This year’s theme, “Building a Sustainable HIV Response to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat in Uganda,” will be complemented by the global World AIDS Day theme: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”
World AIDS Day 2025 will be held on December 1 in Bushenyi District, Kizinda Town Council, with President Museveni expected as chief guest.
Dr. Musoba praised President Museveni’s stewardship and acknowledged the efforts of health workers, development partners, cultural and religious leaders, and networks of people living with HIV. He urged communities to fight stigma and challenge harmful myths that leave girls uninformed and unprotected.
“Ending AIDS begins with protecting our daughters, educating our sons, and ensuring every young person can access prevention and treatment services without fear or barriers,” he said.
Despite Uganda’s progress, UAC warns that the battle will not be won unless the country confronts the persistent vulnerability of adolescent girls and young women the demographic at the heart of the epidemic.
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