Kampala, Uganda – March 2025Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, has announced that Cabinet will discuss urgent measures to address a UGX 480 billion funding shortfall in the country’s HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs following the suspension of U.S. aid.Speaking during a plenary sitting on March 6, 2025, Nabbanja revealed that the Ministry of Health is preparing a Cabinet Memorandum to brief the Executive on the crisis and seek guidance on resource mobilization.“The suspension of USAID funding, effective January 20, 2025, has significantly impacted Uganda’s HIV/AIDS programs. To bridge this gap and sustain essential services, an additional UGX 480 billion is required,” Nabbanja said.Her statement came in response to a question from Workers MP Abdul Byakatonda, who sought clarification on the government’s strategy to mitigate the effects of the funding cut.
Byakatonda raised concerns over the fate of 1.4 million Ugandans currently receiving HIV treatment and the possible job losses among 12,551 Community Health Workers who depend on U.S. funding.“What immediate measures is the government implementing to mitigate the impact of the U.S. funding freeze? How will it safeguard jobs and high-level skills among Community Health Workers?” he asked.He further questioned the government’s commitment to increasing health funding, citing Uganda’s failure to meet the Abuja Declaration pledge of allocating 15% of the national budget to health."Given that Uganda currently allocates only 6.5% of the national budget to health, when will the government fulfill its Abuja Declaration commitment? Will the government consider establishing an Emergency HIV Response Task Force similar to the COVID-19 response model to mobilize alternative funding sources and sustain HIV services? What is the readiness or strategy to locally manufacture our medical supplies?" Byakatonda pressed.
The funding freeze follows an Executive Order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 24, 2025, which suspended U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, disrupting grants and agreements with Uganda’s implementing partners.Uganda has been heavily reliant on U.S. aid for its HIV/AIDS response. Data from the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) in December 2023 indicated that 1.49 million Ugandans are living with HIV, including 910,000 women, 520,000 men, and 72,000 children. The country recorded 38,000 new HIV infections in 2023, with women accounting for the majority (22,000), followed by men (11,000) and children (4,700).In the same year, Uganda also registered 20,000 AIDS-related deaths, including 8,200 women, 8,400 men, and 3,200 children. These statistics highlight the ongoing burden of HIV/AIDS in the country and the critical need for sustained funding.
Appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee in February 2025, Dr. Vincent Bagambe, Director of Planning and Strategic Information at the Uganda AIDS Commission, underscored the severity of the crisis.According to Dr. Bagambe, Uganda spends UGX 1.928 trillion annually on HIV services, with 60% (UGX 1 trillion) allocated to treatment and laboratory monitoring. However, the country contributes only UGX 230 billion of this amount, while the rest comes from external donors, primarily the U.S. government and the Global Fund.The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) alone provides UGX 340 billion for health system strengthening, including salaries for 4,333 clinical workers in 2,000 health facilities and 26,690 community health workers who support patient care.Dr. Bagambe warned that Uganda remains disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.“For every 100 people living with HIV globally, four are Ugandans. Despite having a population of 46 million, Uganda still carries 3.8% of the global HIV burden,” he said.
With the suspension of U.S. funding, Uganda is under increasing pressure to find sustainable solutions to maintain its HIV/AIDS programs. Health sector stakeholders and civil society organizations have urged the government to explore alternative financing mechanisms, including:
In her address, Prime Minister Nabbanja assured Parliament that the government is prioritizing the issue and will explore all possible measures to ensure continuity of HIV/AIDS services."We are working with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and the Uganda AIDS Commission, to develop a sustainable funding model. The Cabinet discussion will be critical in determining the next course of action," she said.As the government scrambles to address the crisis, the suspension of U.S. aid has exposed Uganda’s heavy dependence on foreign funding for its healthcare system, raising concerns about long-term sustainability. Many fear that without urgent intervention, the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS could be reversed, leaving millions at risk.
