More 19,200 lenacapavir doses secured

By Our reporter

KAMPALA – The Ministry of Health has announced that Uganda will receive an additional 19,200 doses of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medicine used to prevent HIV infection, as demand for the drug continues to grow across the country.

The new shipment, expected to arrive in July 2026, will mainly be used to provide second injections to people who have already received their first dose during the ongoing national rollout.

Dr Herbert Kadama, the Ministry of Health’s Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) coordinator, said the doses have been donated by the Global Fund and are part of the next phase of the programme.

“This is a continuation batch to cover the second dose of the individuals who have received their first injection,” Dr Kadama said.

Lenacapavir is administered as an injection under the skin once every six months, making it a convenient alternative to taking daily HIV prevention pills. After injection, the medicine is slowly released into the body over a six-month period, providing long-term protection against HIV infection.

The ministry also plans to significantly expand access to the injectable drug. By December, lenacapavir is expected to be available at 300 health facilities across Uganda, up from the current 103 public health facilities that have been offering the service since its official launch at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in April.

The expansion comes as Uganda continues to battle new HIV infections. According to the Ministry of Health’s 2025 estimates, the country’s HIV prevalence stands at 4.9%, with 37,000 new infections recorded in 2024. This translates to about 711 new infections every week, or roughly five people becoming infected every hour.

Young women and girls remain the most affected. Of the new infections recorded last year, 14,000 occurred among females aged 15 to 24, including 11,000 adolescent girls. In comparison, only 3,000 infections were reported among adolescent boys in the same age group.

The latest figures also show significant regional differences in HIV prevalence. Fort Portal City recorded the highest prevalence at 14.3%, followed by Soroti City at 11.6% and Mbarara City at 9.9%.

Despite the promise of lenacapavir, health officials have cautioned that the injection alone will not end the HIV epidemic.

Dr Vincent Bagambe, Senior Manager for Policy Planning and Strategic Information at the Uganda AIDS Commission, urged Ugandans to continue using other proven HIV prevention methods, including condoms, abstinence and faithfulness, especially for those who may not yet have access to the injectable drug.

Uganda also continues to face a heavy HIV burden. Last year, the country recorded 20,000 HIV-related deaths, an average of 54 deaths every day. An estimated 1.5 million people are currently living with HIV, although only 1.3 million are receiving life-saving treatment.