Thousands of HIV patients in Uganda are staring at a bleak future as several treatment centres face imminent closure due to funding uncertainties.
Over 1.4 million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS rely on life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, but disruptions in funding threaten to cripple services, leaving vulnerable patients in limbo.
The crisis has been triggered by delays in financial support from international donors, including USAID, which has been a critical lifeline for Uganda’s HIV response.
Several healthcare facilities, including the Mulago Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and key centres run by The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), have warned of potential service interruptions if urgent interventions are not made.
Panic Among Patients
The uncertainty has caused widespread fear among patients, many of whom are rushing to clinics to collect extended supplies of ARVs. Quraishi Mubiru, the executive director of Uganda Young Positives, expressed concern about the looming crisis.
“This is a life or death situation for many people,” Mubiru said. “Patients have been advised to pick up three months’ worth of medication, but what happens after that? We are facing a potential surge in drug resistance, treatment failure, and new infections if urgent action is not taken.”
Reports indicate that some facilities have already reduced operations, citing budget shortfalls. Rural communities, where alternative healthcare options are scarce, are expected to suffer the most.
Government and Stakeholder Response
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Health has called for calm, assuring the public that efforts are underway to secure alternative funding. Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng acknowledged the urgency of the matter and reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining HIV treatment services.
“We recognise the seriousness of this situation and are actively engaging with our development partners to ensure continued access to medication,” Dr. Aceng said. “We also urge Parliament to fast-track the operationalization of the AIDS Trust Fund to help bridge funding gaps.”
TASO’s Executive Director, Dr. Michael Etukoit, also sought to reassure patients that services would continue, albeit under constrained conditions. “No patient will be abandoned. While some activities may be scaled down, our focus remains on ensuring uninterrupted treatment for those in need,” he stated.
Call for Urgent Action
Activists have intensified pressure on the government to find a long-term solution to HIV programme financing. Mubiru and other advocates argue that reliance on foreign aid makes Uganda’s HIV response vulnerable to external policy changes.
“The only sustainable solution is for Uganda to invest more in its health sector,” Mubiru emphasised. “We need urgent action to operationalize domestic funding mechanisms such as the AIDS Trust Fund, which has remained dormant for years.”
With over 1.4 million lives depending on ARVs for survival, the coming weeks will be critical in determining Uganda’s ability to navigate this crisis. If funding gaps persist, the country could witness a devastating health setback, reversing years of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
As the debate rages on, one thing remains clear: for thousands of Ugandans living with HIV, the clock is ticking, and urgent intervention is needed to prevent a public health catastrophe
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