Rukungiri and Kanungu districts are topping the list of HIV burden in the Kigezi sub-region, prompting renewed calls for vigilance and intensified HIV prevention, testing and treatment. This was issued today during an engagement workshop for journalists, district and Municipality communication officers Kigezi Sub region under the Uganda AIDS Commission at Riverside Hotel in Rukungiri Municipality.
Addressing the gathering, Brian Masimbi, the Principal Statistician at the Uganda AIDS Commission, said Uganda is experiencing approximately four new HIV infections every hour, translating into 662 new cases weekly. He added that the number of people living with HIV remains higher among females, while males die more than females.
Masimbi further revealed that within Kigezi, Rukungiri District leads at 8.1%, followed by Kanungu at 6%. Other districts cited include Kabale at 5.2%, Rukiga at 4.3%, Rubanda at 2.6%, and Kisoro at 2%.
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Sharing national 2024 status information, Masimbi indicated that about 1,550,000 people are living with HIV, including 980,000 females, 569,000 males, and 71,000 children. He reported that 344,000 people were recorded as new cases, while 19,000 deaths occurred among people living with HIV.
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The Principal Statistician said multiple factors continue to drive transmission, including multiple sexual partners, low condom use, low male circumcision, alcohol consumption, poverty and wealth inequalities, as well as stigma and discrimination.
Kemigisha Joanitah, Manager for Social Behavior Change, noted that while government aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, new infections are backsliding the ambition. Urged young generation to be vigilant.
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Dr. Davis Ahabwe, Principal Medical Officer for Rukungiri Municipality, urged residents to seek HIV testing and begin treatment promptly if positive, to reduce transmission.
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Amongst Attendees, Kemigisha Maurice, the Communication Officer for Rukungiri Municipality, urged District and Municipal leadership to consistently support the communications departments so that sensitive public health information is effectively disseminated. Samuel Amanya from Uganda Radio Network (URN) Kigezi region emphasized that it is also journalists’ responsibility to share HIV information so that Ugandans do not die unaware.
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Journalists were urged to accurately disseminate HIV information to help Ugandans avoid dying unaware, as Uganda strives for zero HIV transmission by 2030.
