As Uganda approaches the Valentine’s Day season—a period often associated with increased social interaction and intimacy—the Ministry of Health has renewed its nationwide appeal for consistent condom use, warning that risky sexual behaviour continues to drive new HIV infections.
Health officials are promoting condoms as a “triple protection” tool guarding against unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and other related health risks.
The renewed call comes at a time when Uganda is still grappling with persistently high HIV infection rates, particularly among young people.
According to data from the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), condom use remains uneven. About 59 percent of men report using condoms, while female condom usage is critically low at just 1 percent.
In 2025 alone, Uganda recorded at least 37,000 new HIV infections, the majority among young people, despite widespread condom availability.
Last year, the Ministry of Health distributed over 200 million condoms through public health facilities and partners, including AHF Uganda Cares, which operates more than 70 clinics nationwide.
Government investment in condom procurement and distribution is estimated at close to one billion shillings.
Government Reaffirms Commitment
Dr Charles Olaro, director general of health services, acknowledged funding constraints affecting procurement and last-mile distribution but stressed that the government remains committed to ensuring a steady supply, including scaling up locally manufactured condom brands.
“We are strengthening domestic procurement and expanding access, especially to female condoms, whose uptake remains extremely low,” Dr Olaro said.
He urged young people to take personal responsibility in protecting themselves, noting that Uganda has made significant progress in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.
“It would be hypocritical for children to expose themselves knowingly when mothers have sacrificed so much to protect them before birth,” he said.
Uganda will mark National Condom Day on Friday, February 13, in Fort Portal City, western Uganda, a region that continues to record concerning HIV figures. Recent data show HIV prevalence in the western region at 4.9 percent, slightly below the national prevalence of 5.4 percent.
However, condom use among young people remains low, between 18 and 24 percent, despite youth making up nearly 70 percent of the population.
Civil society organisations cite misinformation, cultural taboos, and lack of practical knowledge on correct condom use as key barriers.
Martha Mbabazi of Uganda Cares explained that many users do not know how to use condoms properly, increasing the risk of failure.
“For men, condoms should be worn only after full erection, and the tip must be pressed to remove air before use. For female condoms, adequate lubrication is important. People must also check expiry dates. Rushed use often leads to errors,” Mbabazi said.
She added that newer condom varieties now come in different flavours to address complaints about smell and discomfort, which have previously discouraged use.
Responding to long-standing complaints about condom sizes, Dr Olaro confirmed plans to introduce a wider range of sizes to improve comfort and acceptability.
Condoms Critical to 2030 HIV Targets
Boniface Epoku, head of the Ministry’s Condom Programme, reiterated Uganda’s commitment to ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030, in line with global targets.
“Condoms currently contribute about 10 percent to overall HIV prevention impact. With improved uptake, they could help avert at least 15 percent of new infections by 2030,” Epoku said.
He emphasized that condoms remain an essential part of combination prevention strategies, alongside antiretroviral therapy (ART), voluntary medical male circumcision, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Stigma continues to be a major obstacle. According to Dr. Olaro, many people still feel embarrassed to request condoms openly.
“Some people go to shops and ask vaguely for ‘that thing’ instead of mentioning condoms directly. In some communities, condom use is still considered taboo,” he noted.
The Ministry has also raised concerns about improper disposal of used condoms. Emmanuel Ainebyona, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, reminded the public that condoms are considered medical waste and must be disposed of responsibly.
“In some communities, discarded condoms are found in open spaces, posing infection risks, especially to children. Proper disposal is critical for environmental health and sanitation,” Ainebyona said.
Dr Francis Engwau, Programme Analyst at UNFPA, acknowledged that cultural resistance persists but commended ongoing sensitisation efforts by the Ministry of Health and Uganda AIDS Commission.
He said UNFPA continues to support improved condom distribution, particularly in hard-to-reach areas such as island communities and HIV hotspots.
“Community feedback has helped diversify condom options in Uganda. It is important that the consumer guides us on their needs, and we are seeing positive responses,” Dr Engwau said.
Despite funding reductions affecting last-mile delivery in recent years, improvements in planning and quantification have strengthened supply systems, he added.