Ntungamo District is facing a growing HIV burden, with health authorities revealing that more than 1,000 new infections are recorded annually, largely driven by urban hotspots, intergenerational relationships, and high-risk social spaces in town councils.
According to Nesterio Twesigye, the Ntungamo District Health Educator and HIV focal person, the district currently has about 21,000 people living with HIV, with nearly 19,000 already identified through testing and enrolled in care.
However, the district’s HIV prevalence now stands at 6 percent, significantly higher than the national average, raising concern among health officials.
“Ntungamo as a district, statistics show that we have got about 21,000 people who live with HIV. Out of those, close to 19,000 people have been identified through HIV testing and most of them are under care. The HIV prevalence is currently at 6 percent and that is higher than the national prevalence. That’s a big challenge,” Twesigye said.
Health data further indicates a worrying trend in new infections, with the district identifying close to 400 HIV-positive individuals every three months. This translates to over 1,000 new cases annually, signaling sustained transmission within communities.
“As a district, in the provision of services for HIV/AIDS, we are identifying close to 400 HIV positive people every three months. That means we are able to identify more than 1,000 people who are HIV positive—new cases—every year. We continue to see the spread of HIV cases going up,” he noted.
The pattern of infections reveals stark age and gender disparities. Men aged between 45 and 50 years are among the most affected, while young girls aged 15 to 25 years are increasingly vulnerable.
Twesigye attributes this to transactional relationships, where older men target younger women, particularly in economically vulnerable settings.
“The adult men with money tend to move to the age category of young girls because most of them are interested in money,” he explained.
Urban centres and trading hubs have emerged as key transmission hotspots. Areas such as Rubaare, Ntungamo Municipality, Rwashamaire, and Kitwe are particularly affected, with many young women working in bars where they interact with older, financially stable men.
In response, district health authorities are shifting focus toward intensified HIV testing and prevention strategies in high-risk areas.
Plans are underway to expand targeted interventions, including bar-to-bar HIV testing campaigns in urban centres aimed at increasing early detection and linkage to care.
However, efforts to control the spread are being undermined by high mobility among HIV-positive individuals, which complicates follow-up and continuity of treatment, posing an ongoing challenge to health workers in the district.
