New study reveals over 210 new HIV infections in Kampala weekly

The spike is suspected to be driven by unregulated sexual activity in massage parlours, spas, and lodges, among others.

Health experts have warned of a dangerous trend following revelations that at least 211 people in Kampala contracted HIV every week over the past 12 months, translating to 844 cases per month and 11,241 annually.

The figures were unveiled during the 2026 Kampala HIV/TB Stakeholders’ meeting, following a study by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) that reviewed 649,570 individuals tested across various health facilities between July 2025 and June 2026. Findings indicate that an average of 30 people contracted the virus daily.

Presenting the results, Dr. Douglas Tuhumwire, the Care and Treatment Lead at KCCA, noted that the spike is suspected to be driven by unregulated sexual activity in massage parlours, spas, and lodges, domestic violence, structural inequalities, and digital or social media-influenced exposure. He emphasized that these factors require further investigation to conclusively confirm the root causes behind the surge.

Demographically, women accounted for 64 percent of total tests and 62 percent of new positive cases, while men accounted for 38 percent of new infections. Although the majority of tested individuals were aged 20 to 24, new positive cases were concentrated among those aged 30 to 39.

The findings sparked serious concern among stakeholders, who called for urgent prevention measures—particularly targeting young people—amid declining funding for HIV initiatives.

Ms. Josephine Kaleebi, the Executive Director of the Reach out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, described the figures as alarming. She highlighted a troubling trend where adolescents, despite being saved from mother-to-child transmission at birth, are now contracting the virus due to a lack of awareness regarding its dangers. She urged all actors to prioritize prevention and re-engage youth who have grown up in the era of accessible medication.

The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Mr. Ronald Balimwezo, implored the government and development partners to prioritize funding for the city due to its dense day and night population. He advocated for a coordinated referral network among non-governmental organizations, requested support to digitize healthcare facilities with computer equipment, and encouraged the public to visit laboratories to know their HIV status.

Dr. Christopher Oundo, the KCCA HIV/TB Focal Person, acknowledged remarkable progress in care and treatment but noted that stigma, discrimination, and steady new infections remain significant hurdles. He emphasized that multi-institutional collaboration is essential to end the epidemic.

The stakeholders' meeting was organized under the Reach out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, which is implementing a five-year PEPFAR-supported HIV/TB project in Kampala aimed at achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2030. The study revealed that Kampala currently stands at 88 percent for individuals knowing their status and 78 percent of diagnosed persons enrolled on antiretroviral therapy, though it surpassed the third target with a 97.5 percent viral suppression rate among those on treatment.