Uganda Aids Commission Needs UGX300 Billion to Bridge HIV funding Gap

The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) and AHF Uganda Cares have called for an urgent allocation of Shs300 billion to cater for critical drugs and laboratory supplies following the withdrawal of U.S. funding. Officials from both organizations made this appeal on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, while appearing before the Committee on Health, chaired by Hon. Joseph Ruyonga.

The withdrawal of USAID funding follows recent executive orders issued by the President of the United States. Vincent Bagambe, Director of Planning and Strategic Information at UAC, warned that this move would derail Uganda’s progress in combating HIV/AIDS.

“We are at a critical juncture. Uganda has made significant strides in reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths, but the sudden cut in funding puts these gains at risk. We need an additional Shs300 billion to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment, laboratory monitoring, and other essential services,” he stated.

A policy brief presented to the committee revealed that Uganda spends approximately Shs1.9 trillion annually on HIV services, with 60% of the funding coming from donors, primarily the U.S. government through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The recent executive orders have halted grant disbursements, causing uncertainty among implementing partners, some of whom have already begun closing clinics and laying off staff.

“If we do not act swiftly, we risk a crisis where thousands of people living with HIV may not receive their medication, increasing the chances of drug resistance and new infections,” Bagambe warned.

The UAC has proposed an increase in the HIV Mainstreaming allocation from 0.1% to 0.5% of the national budget. This adjustment would generate an additional Shs200 billion to sustain critical prevention and treatment services.

“The current allocation is inadequate. Increasing it to 0.5% will ensure that critical interventions such as viral load monitoring, counseling services, and logistics for antiretroviral distribution continue without disruption,” Bagambe emphasized.

According to UAC statistics, Uganda has 1.49 million people living with HIV, with a prevalence rate of 5.1%. In 2023 alone, there were 38,000 new infections and 20,000 AIDS-related deaths. Young people aged 15-24, particularly adolescent girls and young women, remain the most affected demographic.

Flavia Kyomukama from the National Forum of People Living with HIV raised concerns about the impact of the funding freeze on essential services, stating that standalone ART clinics, youth centers, and shelters are being phased out, limiting access to medication and increasing stigma.

“The USAID exit is not just a freeze, but a freeze on our lives, a freeze on our bloodline; we are slowly dying, and we are asking our Parliament to represent us,” she pleaded.

Trevor Emojel, a Youth Officer at Uganda Cares, urged Parliament to support the local manufacturing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by providing tax breaks, low-interest financing, and other incentives to companies such as Quality Chemicals. He also called for the fast-tracking of Uganda’s HIV sustainability strategy to ensure full financing of essential services.

The UNAIDS Country Director, Jacqueline Makokha, emphasized the need for a locally driven solution involving the government, civil society, and private partners.

“We need to come up with our own homegrown solutions; solutions will not come from outside. It has to come from us internally who are facing this situation,” she said.

Hon. Lulume Bayigga (Buikwe County South MP) stressed that Uganda must take responsibility for addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis in the wake of USAID’s exit. He advocated for increased investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and proposed a national basket fund for purchasing HIV medicines.

“If we cut down on our expenditure and provide a basket fund, we can purchase the medicines ourselves,” he said.

Hon. Sarah Netalisire (Namisindwa District Woman Representative) warned of increased stigma due to the proposed integration of HIV services into general outpatient departments.

“We have got people who have lived HIV positive for over 10 years but have never declared their status… they wait for drugs to find them where they are,” she noted, emphasizing the need for targeted service delivery.

Committee chairperson Hon. Joseph Ruyonga called on the Ministry of Health to convene a meeting with all stakeholders to strategize on mitigating the impact of the funding freeze.

“We may not be able to raise all the funds to run the activities as you have been doing. Can the Ministry of Health address all the stakeholders in a single meeting and see how to resolve this?” he urged.

ENDS