KAMPALA, Uganda —Uganda is set to receive nearly 95,000 doses of a long-acting HIV prevention drug next week, signaling a new era in the country’s decades-long battle against the virus.
The drug, lenacapavir, represents a radical shift in preventative care. Unlike the daily pill regimens that have defined the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) landscape for years, this twice-yearly injection offers a “set-and-forget” solution. Its arrival in Uganda follows a 2024 Science magazine designation as the “Breakthrough of the Year,” earned after early clinical trials demonstrated a staggering 100% efficacy rate.
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The shipment, currently in transit to national medical warehouses, includes 60,000 doses donated by the U.S. government and more than 34,000 doses funded by the Global Fund. Together, the consignment will provide a year of protection for more than 47,000 people.
For the Ministry of Health, the logistical challenge now shifts to the clinic floor. Dr. Herbert Kadama, the national PrEP coordinator, confirmed that 300 health facilities—ranging from public hospitals to faith-based centers—are being prepared for a March launch.
The stakes for this rollout are high. While Uganda has successfully lowered its overall HIV prevalence to 4.9%, the virus remains a stubborn predator of the young. In 2024, the country recorded 37,000 new infections; nearly 80% of adolescent infections occurred in girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24.
This demographic, along with sex workers and long-distance truck drivers, will be the first to receive the drug free of charge. By removing the burden of daily adherence, health officials hope to close the gap that often leads to new infections among those most at risk.
However, the medical breakthrough comes with a caveat. Boniface Epoku, who coordinates condom programming for the ministry, warned that the “miracle drug” narrative could inadvertently lead to a rise in other health crises.
“People test negative before sex but forget they remain exposed to other infections and pregnancy,” Epoku said. He noted that lenacapavir offers no protection against syphilis, gonorrhea, or unintended pregnancy—a critical concern in a country where only 17.6% of people reported using a condom during their last high-risk encounter.
Uganda joins neighboring Kenya in a high-stakes test of modern medicine
