Uganda Aids Commission partners with Lango Cultural Institution to fight against HIV/AIDS

2 January 2026, 22:01

By Winnie Auma

Uganda Aids Commission in partnership with the Lango Cultural Institution has launched an aggressive fight against HIV/AIDs in the Lango Sub-region.

The partnership, according to the head of partnership at Uganda Aids Commission, Tom Etii, follows a recent report indicating that 1,500,000 Ugandans were living with HIV/AIDS as per 2024, out of which 930,000 were female and 570,000 male.

The report showed 37,000 new infections, including 21,000 (female), 11,000 (male) and 4,700 (children). 20,000 of the 1,500,000 infected persons succumbed to the disease, the report detailed.

According to Etii, there are 711 new HIV infections weekly and 384 deaths are recorded in the same period. He added that despite the fact that more women are living with the virus, it’s instead more men dying, this, Eti explained is because men don’t seek proper medication.As for the regional prevalence rates, Etii said Southern Buganda ranks highest at 7.5%, followed by Acholi at 7.0%, Ankole at number three with 6.3%, Lango is fourth with 5.8% while Karamoja has the least prevalence rate at 1.4%.

It’s against this background that Etii says the Uganda Aids Commission has decided to partner with the Lango Cultural Institution in a bid to boost the fight against the disease in Lango Sub region.

Dr Buchan Ocen, the District Health Officer-DHO Lira, confirmed the rate of HIV infection in Lango is always increasing. This, he says is a sign that most people are not adhering to preventive measures.

According to Ocen, in 2019, there were 84,000 infections in Lango compared to the current over 100,000 cases, even when health experts are doing their best to reduce the levels of disease transmission.

He singled out Lira city with the highest HIV prevalence in the region standing at 9%, explaining that the City leads because of its busy night life.

Hillary Okello, the HIV focal point person for Lira City explained that the disease is common among teenagers aged between 15-19, because most of them are engaged in comercial sex to look for money for survival.Okello added that some married women with marital issues have also resorted to commercial sex in the City to cater for their needs.

He therefore urged clan leaders to join the fight and sensitize young people, especially on preventive measures, calling upon parents to provide essential items for their children and be keen on their movements.

Prof Willy Okullo, the Prime Minister Lango Cultural Institution said they recently formed a committee to help in the fight against HIV through sensitizing people on preventive measures and handling stigma in victims.

He pledged to work with Uganda Aids Commission to derive means of implementing the measures.