The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has proposed conducting training sessions for Members of Parliament (MPs) on how to use condoms so they can better educate their constituents, amid growing concerns about Uganda’s slow progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The proposal was made by Ruth Ssenyonyi, Board Chairperson of the UAC, during an appearance before Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS and other Related Matters on October 15, 2025, to discuss the current status of HIV and AIDS in Uganda.
Her remarks followed a request by Denis Onekalit (MP, Kitgum Municipality), who asked the Commission to provide Parliament with data on specific regions with low condom use and high rates of transactional sex cited as key drivers of new infections.
“But I am also thinking that maybe one day, we will just come not to give you reports but to give you information, like how to use condoms, for example,” Ssenyonyi said.
“Yes, you may know, but you’re teaching others, and there are deeper issues to understand. Since you’re representing us, it’s important to be fully equipped with this information.”
Sarah Kayagi Netalisile, Chairperson of the Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS and other Relater Matters welcomed the proposal to teach MPs on condom use owing to the fact that all the MPs on this Committee have no training in the medical field, and yet following the changes in constitution of the Committee, some of the MPs were knew and had limited knowledge on the terminologies used in HIV/AIDS sector.
“Some of the members on this Committee have been on the Committee for less than a year they are new members, so most of the issues in the area of HIV, the words to use, if you let them speak to the persons living positively, they will be chased from the room because they will use the language that is very inappropriate to them,” Netalisile said.
“But as we keep going and learning and staying on the Committee, we get enlightened. So, when people are asking about condom use, I have got Catholics on the Committee who have never used a condom, so teaching them will be a great job.” Shs said.
According to the UAC, Uganda recorded 38,000 new HIV infections in 2024, with 22,000 of those among women, particularly adolescents and young women aged 15–24.
HIV prevalence remains alarmingly high in certain vulnerable groups, particularly sex workers in fishing communities, where the rate stands at 37%, compared to the national average of 5.4%. Additionally, over 1,500 sex workers at landing sites continue to face stigma and discrimination, which hinders their access to medical care.
The 2024 “AIDS at a Crossroads” report highlights a troubling decline in condom use, especially among young people aged 15–24. Inconsistent condom use with non-regular partners remains a major concern. In Eastern and Southern Africa, only 36% of adults reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, with the rate even lower—25%—in Western and Central Africa.
Despite these challenges, condoms remain the most effective and affordable HIV prevention tool, offering triple protection against unintended pregnancies, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While some sex workers report consistent condom use with clients, access to other prevention tools, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), remains limited.
Experts note that expanding PrEP access could significantly reduce new HIV infections, particularly among young women and individuals in high-incidence areas.
