Minister for Presidency Babiry Milly Babalanda has Commended the Uganda AIDS Commission for coordinating the multi-sectoral response and for championing strategies aimed at sustainability, resilience, HIV mainstreaming, and stronger national coordination mechanisms.
Officiating at the commemoration of the International Candlelight Memorial 2026, themed “Ending AIDS by 2030: Embracing the Role of Women”, held at Kitante Hill Secondary School, Kampala, she hailed millions of lives that have been lost to AIDS-related illnesses across the world, including Ugandans whose contributions to their families and communities were cut short.
She noted that Uganda’s HIV response remains one of the most remarkable public health stories on the African continent. From a period in the 1980s and early 1990s when HIV threatened our nation, Uganda rose through strong political leadership, community mobilisation, openness, and collective responsibility.
“The occasion reminded us how far Uganda has come in the fight against HIV/AIDS and renewed our determination to finish the journey toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” she said.
She also paid special tribute to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the bold and consistent leadership he has provided since the beginning of the epidemic. She added that under his leadership, Uganda confronted HIV openly at a time when many countries feared to do so. That courage saved countless lives and laid the foundation for the progress we celebrate today.
“Today, Uganda has made tremendous gains: New HIV infections have significantly declined over the years; AIDS-related deaths have greatly reduced; approximately 1.4 million Ugandans are accessing life-saving Antiretroviral treatment, mother-to-child transmission has drastically reduced, and Uganda has moved closer to the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets,” she added.
These achievements, she added, are not accidental; they are the result of deliberate government commitment, resilient communities, committed health workers, civil society organisations, development partners, religious and cultural institutions, and the courage of people living with HIV themselves.
“As we celebrate progress, we must also confront the truth with honesty and urgency: the fight is not yet over. Uganda still records thousands of new HIV infections every year. Young women and girls remain disproportionately affected,” she said.
She said many men are still not testing early enough or enrolling in treatment. Stigma and discrimination continue to prevent some Ugandans from seeking services. HIV-related vulnerabilities linked to poverty, gender inequality, unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse, and harmful social practices still persist in our communities.
She noted that ending AIDS is not the responsibility of women alone. Every Ugandan has a role to play: parents must guide and protect their children. Men must test, know their status, and seek treatment early. Young people must make responsible choices. Religious and cultural leaders must continue using their platforms to promote positive values and fight stigma. Leaders at every level must mainstream HIV in planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
She said the Government of Uganda remains firmly committed to ensuring uninterrupted access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services across the country. No Ugandan should be denied lifesaving services because of stigma, poverty, or geographic location.
She called upon all ministries, departments, agencies, local governments, and the private sector to fully integrate HIV into their development plans and accountability frameworks. “We must strengthen community ownership and patriotism in the HIV response because ending AIDS is not merely a health sector responsibility – it is a national development imperative,” she said.
She thanked all development partners, civil society organisations, health workers, researchers, cultural and religious leaders, communities, and people living with HIV for standing with Uganda throughout this journey.