AIDS care providers in Uganda are urging the government to waive inspection fees on imported condoms to help address the ongoing shortage in the country.
The National Drug Authority (NDA) oversees the verification and quality assurance of all imported condoms before they are distributed to Ugandans.
While the government scrapped importation fees on medical supplies, including condoms, care providers argue that inspection fees remain a significant barrier to distribution. Henry Magala, Country Programs Director for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) – Uganda Cares, says these fees discourage the importation of donated condoms, which are meant for free distribution and do not generate profits for importers.
“We ask the National Drug Authority to waive these inspection fees, just as it did with importation fees. This would support the HIV/AIDS campaign,” Magala says. He believes that if the request is granted, more condoms can be imported, particularly benefiting remote and high-risk communities such as landing sites.
Currently, importers pay over UGX 300,000 per batch, totaling approximately UGX 5 million for every two million condoms imported. Since 2009, AHF-Uganda Cares has imported over 50 million condoms.
“Condoms remain the best option for people to stay safe during intimacy, offering up to 95% protection. However, many people are still reluctant to use them, contributing to the high number of new HIV cases,” Magala adds.
Boniface Epuku, Program Lead for Condom Programming at the Ministry of Health, emphasizes that effective condom use is crucial in reducing new HIV infections. He warns that with looming cuts in HIV treatment support, Uganda must return to the basics of promoting condom use.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that condoms are available and distributed across the country, along with increasing the number of dispensers,” Epuku says. He notes that while the government procures and distributes about 200 million condoms annually, reduced funding calls for stronger efforts in distribution and awareness.
Since 2024, condom shortages have been a major concern, with many Ugandans reporting empty dispensers at health centers nationwide. In response, some individuals in hard-to-reach areas, including islands and landing sites, have resorted to reusing condoms or using polythene bags as alternatives.
Uganda marked World Condom Day on Monday in Kalungu, a district in the Greater Masaka Region with high HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49. Uganda AIDS Commission statistics show that Kalangala has the highest HIV prevalence rate at 13.1%, followed by Kyotera at 12.2%, Masaka City at 11.2%, Kalungu at 9.9%, Masaka at 9.2%, Bukomansimbi at 9.1%, Lwengo at 8.4%, Lyantonde at 8.3%, Sembabule at 6.2%, and Rakai at 5.2%.
Health experts warn that without urgent government intervention, the condom shortage could undermine Uganda’s progress in HIV prevention and escalate new infections across the country.