The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has urged Parliament and the Ministry of Finance to realign budget prioritiesand allocate an additional UGX 300 billion to counter the impact of the United States’ foreign aid freeze. The funding gap follows an Executive Order by former President Donald Trump, which imposed a complete ban on US aid, disrupting Uganda’s HIV/AIDS programs.
Dr. Vincent Bagambe, UAC’s Director of Planning and Strategic Information, presented the appeal to Parliament’s Health Committee on February 11, 2025, warning of severe consequences for Uganda’s national HIV response.
“We urge Parliament to redirect budget priorities and increase HIV funding by UGX 300 billion to cover medicines, laboratory supplies, and other essential resources previously funded by PEPFAR. This should be in addition to the UGX 50 billion annual increments in budget support,” Bagambe stated.
The US aid freeze, imposed on January 24, 2025, has led to a 90-day suspension of grants to implementing partners, causing panic among HIV patients and health workers. UAC warned that Uganda’s goal of ending AIDS by 2030 is now at risk.
Uganda’s HIV/AIDS Burden
As of December 2023, Uganda had 1.49 million people living with HIV, including 910,000 women, 520,000 men, and 72,000 children.
- 38,000 new HIV infections were recorded last year.
- 20,000 AIDS-related deaths, with 8,200 women, 8,400 men, and 3,200 children succumbing to the disease.
- Uganda accounts for 3.8% of the global HIV burden, meaning four out of every 100 people living with HIV worldwide are Ugandans.
Impact on HIV Prevention & Treatment
Dr. Bagambe warned that Uganda’s HIV response remains highly donor-dependent, with 60% of its UGX 1.9 trillion annual HIV budget coming from international donors. PEPFAR alone contributes UGX 340 billion for health systems strengthening, including salaries for 4,333 clinical workers and 26,690 community health workers.
If PEPFAR’s funding is cut further, Uganda risks:
- Severe drug shortages, affecting antiretroviral therapy (ART) and PrEP.
- Health worker layoffs, leading to reduced access to HIV services.
- Increased HIV transmission, as prevention efforts are scaled back.
Flavia Kyomukama, Executive Director of the Network of Persons Living with HIV, called the funding freeze a crisis worse than COVID-19.
“This isn’t just about a freeze; it’s a freeze on our lives,” Kyomukama said. “People are dying, and dead people don’t vote. Parliament must act now.”
She also highlighted that female sex workers, among whom 56% are HIV-positive, have lost access to treatment and prevention services.
Government’s Response & Future Plans
In response to the crisis, the US government partially lifted the aid freeze on February 6, 2025, but limited PEPFAR-funded treatment to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health are developing mitigation strategies. Minister of State for Planning Amos Lugoloobi assured Parliament that recommendations are being prepared to safeguard Uganda from foreign aid shocks.
Treasury Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi pledged that the government would analyze risks and ensure continued HIV treatment, just as it did after the previous aid freeze triggered by the Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Dr. Bagambe stressed that Uganda must rethink its donor-dependent model and shift toward domestic financing for HIV prevention and treatment.
“Unless a vaccine or cure is found, Uganda must prioritize sustainable funding for HIV prevention and treatment,” he urged.
With millions of Ugandans’ lives at stake, the pressure is now on Parliament to fill the funding gap and prevent a public health disaster.
