UAC urges Lango leaders to integrate HIV messaging in cultural platforms
Lango Cultural leaders posing for a group photo after the meeting on Friday
By Patrick Okino
The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has urged cultural leaders in the Lango sub-region to integrate HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention messages into cultural platforms such as clan meetings, women’s gatherings, and youth forums.
Speaking during a presentation on the status of HIV in Uganda at Happy Haven Children’s Park in Lira City, the Director of Partnerships at UAC, Tom Etii, said although significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV, the epidemic remains a major public health concern.
Etii noted that UAC is currently partnering with 21 cultural institutions across the country, which have been identified as key stakeholders in efforts to end HIV infections by 2030.
“Cultural institutions are key because they interact with communities during burials, marriage ceremonies, and within homes. People listen to cultural leaders, and their words are often taken as gospel truth,” he said.
He expressed concern over the high rate of new HIV infections, particularly among young people, stressing the need to mainstream HIV prevention messaging across all cultural institutions.
According to statistics presented at the meeting, 1.5 million people in Uganda are living with HIV, of whom 96,000 are from the Lango sub-region. Etii reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
“There is a need for collective action and collaboration at all levels, especially involving young people, to achieve a population free from AIDS,” he said.
Etii further revealed that Lira City and Oyam District recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in the Lango sub-region, each registering 350 new cases in 2024. Nationally, Uganda records about 37,000 new HIV infections annually, translating to five new infections every hour.
He added that approximately 20,000 people die from AIDS-related illnesses every year, with more deaths recorded among men than women.
The Prime Minister of the Lango Cultural Institution, Prof. Willy Okullo, said in resolutions adopted during the meeting that the institution is committed to strengthening collaboration with the national HIV/AIDS response.
He noted that despite progress, HIV remains a significant public health concern, especially among youth, women, and urban populations.
“Cultural institutions play a critical role in shaping values, influencing behavior, and reducing stigma, which are pillars in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” Prof. Okullo said.
He added that the institution had resolved to work closely with the Uganda AIDS Commission in HIV prevention, advocacy, and community mobilization, including integrating HIV messages into cultural platforms.
The institution also committed to addressing stigma, misinformation, and risky behaviors, and to developing a framework for sustained partnership, including steps toward signing a memorandum of understanding and implementing a joint action plan.
The Lira City HIV focal person, Dr. Hillary Okello, identified key drivers of the epidemic as poverty—leading to commercial sex work—multiple sexual partnerships, early sexual debut, wife inheritance, and poor parenting.
Meanwhile, the Lira District Health Officer, Dr. Patrick Ocen, said the Lango sub-region ranks ninth nationally in viral load suppression, standing at 95 percent.
He identified major HIV hotspots in the region as Juba Road, Kitgum Stage in Lira City, Amach Market, Mocwari Market, Kamdini, Minakulu, and Ngai, among others.
“Adolescents are heavily involved in high-risk sexual behaviors. Cultural leaders should treat this as a wake-up call so that we can fight HIV together and celebrate success together,” Dr. Ocen said.
He called on cultural leaders to pay special attention to young people, noting that they represent the future generation.
