Talk of the oil curse, and the coveted slimy liquid seems to flow through everything—now, it’s fueling the high HIV prevalence in Bunyoro, they say.
The Uganda Aids Commission has raised serious concerns over the rising HIV prevalence in Bunyoro sub-region, with Hoima City topping the charts at 9.6%, followed by Masindi District at 6.1%.
Both figures are well above the national average of 5.1%.
Local leaders in Hoima have attributed this troubling trend to the rapid population growth in the area, driven by oil and gas exploration, as well as major infrastructure projects, such as the construction of Kabalega International Airport and Hoima Stadium.
The escalating HIV infection rate in Bunyoro poses a significant threat to Uganda’s goal of ending HIV transmission by 2030.
Stakeholders, including religious, cultural, and political leaders, are being urged to join forces in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the region.
If no immediate action is taken, achieving the national target will be increasingly difficult.
According to the 2023 Uganda AIDS Commission statistics, Uganda is home to 1,492,000 people living with HIV, with women accounting for 910,000 of this number.
Children make up 0.5% of those living with HIV, while men account for 490,000.
New infections have been recorded at 38,000 annually, translating to 104 new cases daily. Of these, 22,000 are women, 11,000 are men, and 4,700 are children.
Although Uganda’s national HIV statistics are alarming, Bunyoro’s situation is even more concerning.
Hoima City’s prevalence rate of 9.6% stands as the highest in the country. Masindi and Kagadi districts follow closely, with rates of 6.1% and 5.4%, respectively.
Dr Zepher Karyabakabo, the Director of Policy Research and Programming at the Uganda AIDS Commission, highlighted several contributing factors to the surge in HIV cases in Bunyoro.
“Among the many factors, we have multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, low condom usage, discordance and non-disclosure, low male circumcision, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as complacency due to the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART),” he explained.
Dr. Karyabakabo also pointed to high-risk groups, including sex workers, fishers, people who inject drugs, truckers, prisoners, and members of the armed forces.
His data reveals that female sex workers represent 33% of HIV transmissions, followed by fishers at 23%, and prisoners at 15%. Notably, men who inject drugs account for 8%, while male-to-male HIV transmission figures are at 13%.
Badru Mugabi, the Hoima City Resident City Commissioner, echoed these concerns, attributing the spread of the virus to the influx of people drawn to the region due to the oil and gas activities.
"We have over 700 EACOP staff working in Hoima, and around 1,500 oil and gas workers staying in hotels," he said.
"They use the facilities like saunas and steam rooms, where many engage in risky sexual behaviors. If they don’t contract HIV, they end up transmitting it to people here."
Hoima City Mayor Brian Kaboyo has also warned residents to take extra precautions, stressing the importance of HIV testing and using protection during sexual activity.
"We are doing our best, including distributing condoms to all hotels in Hoima, but we advise people to get tested and practice safe sex. HIV is very prevalent in Hoima," he said.
Dr. Karyabakabo further emphasized the need for concerted efforts to tackle the growing epidemic.
"We can only achieve the goal of ending HIV infections by 2030 with the joint efforts of all stakeholders—religious institutions, cultural organizations, and political leaders,” he said.
The Uganda Aids Commission has also raised concerns over the country’s supply of antiretroviral drugs, especially as stock levels are expected to run out by September 2025.
“Government is making strides, but we must remain cautious. If the restrictions from the U.S. president are not relaxed, we may face a tough situation with the cost of drugs increasing. Each pack costs Shs700,000, which is unaffordable for many,” Dr Karyabakabo warned.
With the rising HIV prevalence in Bunyoro, there is an urgent need for enhanced prevention measures and broader engagement from all sectors of society to address the HIV crisis in the region.
