HIV Prevalence in Mbarara District Surges to 14.4%, Exceeds National Average – Uganda AIDS Commission Report Reveals

Summary:

• According to the report, the HIV prevalence rates in various districts are as follows, Mbarara District at 14.4%, Bushenyi at 9.2%, Kiruhura at 9.5%, Mbarara City at 8.1%, Ibanda at 7.3%, Sheema at 7.5%, Ntungamo at 5.9%, Rubirizi at 6.1%, Mitooma at 4.1%, Buhweju at 3.8%, and Isingiro at 3.0%.

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MBARARA: The Uganda AIDS Commission report for 2023/2024 has revealed that the HIV prevalence rate in Mbarara District has increased to 14.4%, significantly higher than the national average of 5.1%.

This information was shared by Dr. Steven Asiimwe, the HIV Prevention Officer at the Uganda AIDS Commission, during an HIV training workshop organized by the commission at Oxford Hotel on Tuesday.

Dr. Asiimwe noted that the southwestern region, which includes Mbarara, has an HIV prevalence rate of 6.3%, also above the national average of 5.1%.

According to the report, the HIV prevalence rates in various districts are as follows, Mbarara District at 14.4%, Bushenyi at 9.2%, Kiruhura at 9.5%, Mbarara City at 8.1%, Ibanda at 7.3%, Sheema at 7.5%, Ntungamo at 5.9%, Rubirizi at 6.1%, Mitooma at 4.1%, Buhweju at 3.8%, and Isingiro at 3.0%.

Dr. Asiimwe revealed that most HIV transmissions in Mbarara occur among individuals aged 20-49.

Dorcus Twinabeitu, the Mbarara City HIV focal person, explained that despite various HIV preventative interventions, young girls and women are increasingly getting infected in Mbarara City.

She attributed this rise to the current economic hardships, which have pushed young girls into commercial sex.

Twinabeitu reported that as of March 2024, 31,852 people were living with HIV in care in Mbarara City, compared to 31,764 recorded from October to December 2023.

The engagement with journalists and other selected stakeholders aimed to strengthen efforts to combat HIV/AIDS as part of the presidential fast-track initiative to end HIV by 2030.