The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health on April 17 launched Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug, to expand HIV prevention choices.
Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral drug, not a vaccine.
While it is highly effective in preventing HIV, it does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The drug will be offered as part of Uganda’s comprehensive HIV prevention strategy.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the Woman Member of Parliament and Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, appreciated the Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy, development partners, implementing partners, the Senior Executive Consultant of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, the Director General of Health Services (represented by the Commissioner), the Global Fund, and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).
She also thanked the dedicated health workers for embracing the program by choosing Lira City as the first place in Uganda to launch the groundbreaking HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir.
“This milestone has not come by accident. It is a result of the strong leadership and commitment of the government of Uganda under the National Resistance Movement, led by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” she said.
She noted that from the late 1980s and 1990s, when HIV/AIDS was devastating the country, Uganda stood out as a global leader in confronting the epidemic with openness, courage, and decisive action.
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“That same commitment continues to guide us today as we move towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. As a country, we have made significant progress,” she added.
Dr. Aceng highlighted that Uganda has reduced new HIV infections from 96,000 in 2010 to 37,000 by the end of 2025, and expanded access to treatment to over 98 percent. “This is a very great achievement for our country.
Currently, Dr. Aceng said, there are over 1.4 million Ugandans on treatment and that the country has strengthened her health systems.
“However, we must be honest with ourselves. HIV is still with us. About 100 individuals acquire HIV every day, of whom 33 are young people, mainly adolescent girls and young women.
“We must close the tap on new infections. We cannot afford to slow down in this fight. That is why today’s launch of Lenacapavir is so important. It is not just another medicine—it is a game-changer in HIV prevention. It is a long-acting injection, given only twice a year, making it easier for people to protect themselves from HIV without the burden of taking daily oral pills. It is highly effective and offers new hope, especially for individuals at highest risk of acquiring HIV,” the minister stated.
Minister Aceng encouraged all Ugandans, both male and female, to embrace these new innovations, but reminded them not to forget the basics. “Prevention remains our strongest weapon under the combination HIV prevention strategy. I want to strongly remind you of the ABC approach that has guided us for many years.”
She appealed to young people to abstain until they are ready for marriage; to those who are married, to remain faithful to one partner; and to those who are sexually active with more than one partner, to use a condom correctly and consistently to avoid the spread of HIV and other STIs.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Health Promotion, who represented the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabanda Richard, said, “We appreciate all the innovations geared towards preventing HIV among our young people. But, Honorable Minister, allow me to state that most of these biomedical innovations have equally led to a decrease in risk perception, especially among young people. Risk perception for HIV is very, very low.”
“As we launch LEN today, the technical teams need to sit together and think deeply about how we are going to increase HIV risk perception in our communities. Young people do not take HIV as a very serious disease these days, and that is worrying.”
He called on development partners, implementing partners, and healthcare professionals to ensure the HIV prevention agenda focuses on both biomedical and behavioral approaches, relying heavily on non-health actors at the community level.
The Commissioner further requested extensive health education for all visitors to health facilities so they do not forget other preventive measures for HIV. He encouraged service providers at designated LEN facilities to conduct detailed assessments of all individuals to confirm eligibility, noting that currently only a few doses are available in the country.
“Demand for LEN is high because of the exciting good news that comes with it. Kindly do detailed assessments and ensure that only those who are eligible receive LEN for now,” he said.
The Deputy Chief of Mission and Deputy Ambassador of the U.S. Mission in Uganda, Mikael Cleverly, reaffirmed continued U.S. support, noting that Lenacapavir is part of a global effort aimed at reaching 3 million people by 2028.
He said about 46,000 Ugandans are expected to access the drug in 2026 under a phased rollout supported by PEPFAR and global partners, including the Global Fund. He observed that Uganda’s selection reflected its strong health systems and leadership.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that 103 health facilities have already been trained for Phase 1 implementation, with plans to scale up to 300 facilities nationwide by December 2026. High-burden districts will be prioritised in the phased rollout.
Addressing the ceremony, Lira Regional Referral Hospital Director, Dr. Andrew Odur, said we have very high numbers of people already in chronic care. Lira Regional Referral is second only to the Masaka region, with numbers exceeding 11,000 in care.
Dr. Odur noted that this means the country cannot afford to add more to that burden. “A day like this is very important because it brings us closer to the dream of reducing HIV among our population.”
He appreciated Minister Aceng for leading the fight to reduce the HIV burden, adding that mother-to-child transmission has greatly reduced.
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