The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, this morning led the nation in commemorating World AIDS Day with a symbolic candle-lighting ceremony held at Parliament.
The act, simple yet deeply meaningful, honoured the millions of lives lost to HIV/AIDS and reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to ending the epidemic. Standing alongside Members of Parliament, health advocates, and staff, Speaker Among emphasised the need to sustain momentum in prevention, treatment, and awareness efforts.
“Today, we light this candle to remember, to honour, and to recommit,” she said. “Uganda has come a long way in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but our journey continues and together, we shall finish strong.”
Uganda remains globally recognised for its leadership in HIV/AIDS response, particularly through early behavioural change campaigns, treatment expansion, and strong community health systems.
Despite progress, the Speaker noted that the fight is not over, urging continued collaboration between communities, policymakers, and health agencies.
This year’s World AIDS Day is being observed under renewed calls for intensified testing, stigma reduction, and consistent access to treatment especially for young people and vulnerable communities.
As the candle burned in front of Parliament’s main building, it symbolised not just remembrance, but resilience. For the many Ugandans living with HIV, it stood as a message of solidarity and hope. And for the nation, it served as a reminder that ending AIDS remains both a duty and a shared responsibility.
The commemorations continue throughout the day with nationwide health outreach activities, community dialogues, and awareness campaigns led by government agencies and civil society organisations.