Uganda Records Four New HIV Infections Every Hour

Recent data presented by the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) highlights a concerning rate of new HIV infections in Uganda. According to statistics from 2025, an average of four people acquire the virus every hour. This translates to approximately 34,400 new HIV infections within the country for that year, or roughly 662 new cases weekly.

These figures were shared by Brian Masimbi, a principal statistician at UAC, during a recent workshop on HIV prevention communication held in Rukungiri. The data indicates that about 1.55 million Ugandans are currently living with HIV. This population includes a substantial number of women (980,000), men (569,000), and children (71,000).

The UAC study also estimates that HIV-related illnesses cause about 19,000 deaths annually in Uganda, averaging 54 deaths per day. Young people are particularly vulnerable, accounting for 40% of all new HIV infections. Notably, young women represent about 80% of these new infections among the youth demographic.

Uganda’s overall HIV prevalence rate was recorded at 4.9% in 2025. Within the Kigezi region, Rukungiri district shows the highest prevalence at 8.1%, with Kanungu and Kabale following at 6% and 5% respectively.

Masimbi attributed the persistent transmission of HIV to a range of behavioral and social factors. These include having multiple sexual partners, discordance in HIV status between partners, transactional sex, low rates of condom use, alcohol and drug abuse, and a sense of complacency stemming from the availability of antiretroviral therapy. Additionally, poverty, wealth disparities, and gender inequality were cited as significant contributing factors to the ongoing spread of the virus.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/four-people-acquire-hiv-every-hour-in-uganda