Health officials in Kabale District have expressed concern over a continued rise in new HIV infections among young women, despite significant gains in treatment outcomes and viral suppression rates.
Between January and March 2026, the district recorded 173 new HIV infections, with women aged between 20 and 39 accounting for the largest share at 75 cases.
Health experts say the trend underscores a persistent vulnerability among young women, even as overall HIV management indicators show improvement.
The data was presented during a quarterly HIV coordination committee meeting held at the District Health Department boardroom.
District Health Educator Alfred Besigensi reported that 17,462 people were tested during the period, resulting in a 1 percent positivity rate.
He noted that the district continues to carry a significant HIV burden, with a cumulative total of 19,021 people living with HIV. Of these, 9,921 clients are currently active in care.
Despite the new infections, Kabale has achieved a 98 percent viral load suppression rate among 8,749 clients on antiretroviral therapy, a performance health officials attribute to strong adherence levels and effective service delivery systems.
However, District Health Officer Dr Gilbert Arinaitwe Mateeka warned that the continued transmission of HIV, particularly among young women, signals gaps in prevention strategies.
He linked the trend to poverty-driven behaviours, including transactional and cross-generational sex, which he said continue to expose young women to higher risk of infection.
“The trend is driven by poverty-related behaviours such as transactional and cross-generational sex, the influence of high-risk groups including commercial sex workers, long-distance truck drivers, and other vulnerable populations,” Dr Mateeka said.
He further identified alcohol and substance abuse, persistent stigma, and untreated sexually transmitted infections as additional factors contributing to ongoing transmission in the district.
Health officials noted that while treatment outcomes remain strong, prevention efforts must be intensified to address behavioural and socio-economic drivers of infection.
They called for more targeted community outreach, youth-friendly health services, and strengthened behaviour change interventions, particularly among young women in high-risk settings.
