Uganda has received 19,200 doses of Lenacapavir, a new long-acting HIV prevention drug that is taken only twice a year and is more than 99 per cent effective.
The consignment, delivered on Tuesday, February 24, was secured with support from the Global Fund and will be rolled out to districts with high HIV infection rates starting in March 2026, according to the Ministry of Health Uganda.
Health officials say the injectable medicine will first be given to people at greatest risk of HIV, including young women, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and other vulnerable groups.
Lenacapavir was developed by Gilead Sciences and has shown over 99 per cent effectiveness in preventing HIV infection in clinical trials among high-risk populations.
Uganda is among the ten countries with the highest HIV burden selected to receive the drug through support from the PEPFAR and the Global Fund. The programme is part of a wider United States-backed effort to expand HIV prevention in heavily affected countries.
Data from the Uganda AIDS Commission shows that about 1.5 million people were living with HIV in the country by late 2024, with roughly 730 new infections recorded every week.
Experts say the twice-yearly injection could help many people who struggle to take daily HIV prevention pills, improving protection among those most at risk.
Health authorities have emphasised that Lenacapavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS, but a preventive drug for HIV-negative people to reduce their chances of infection.
