It is reported that Uganda has about 54,000 people contracting HIV every year – majority of whom are adolescent girls, adolescent boys and young women , the adolescent girls being most affected.

Dr. Mary Otieno, Chairperson of the Aids Development Partners’ Group Uganda while addressing participants at the national HIV/Aids symposium in Kampala reported to the participants that the donors announced to reduce funding.

“It is important for national stakeholders to commit to financing the response. Donors cannot continue to fund 89 percent of the response to HIV in Uganda, especially given the emerging issues globally, including the frequent pandemics such as Covid-19,  Ebola, drought, civil wars and unrest, and climate change,” Dr Otieno, who is also the country’s representative for the United Nations Population Fund, said.

The reason for the cut in donation as reported by Dr. Mary is due to other pressing global issues. The donors were injecting 89% to Uganda to sustain the fight against HIV/Aids which is $550m , about shs2 trillion annually.

Panic responses from the people living with HIV/Aids received the news of reduced funding. Dr Lydia Mungherera, said: “It is very worrying. We have 1.4 million people in Uganda living with HIV/Aids whom we have to treat. This is going to be a big challenge,” .

courtesy photo.