Kampala, Uganda: Uganda has received its first consignment of 19,200 doses of Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection administered twice a year, marking a significant milestone in the country’s fight against an epidemic that affects more than 1.5 million Ugandans.
The shipment, supported by the Global Fund, arrived on Tuesday, February 24, and will be distributed to high-burden and high-incidence districts starting March 2026.
“The initial consignment of 19,200 doses of Lenacapavir from the Global Fund has arrived in Uganda. The drug is administered every six months to prevent HIV among persons at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. They will be distributed to high-burden and high-incidence districts effective March 2026,” the Ministry of Health Uganda said in a statement.
Lenacapavir, developed by US-based Gilead Sciences, has shown more than 99 per cent effectiveness in preventing HIV infections among high-risk populations in clinical trials.
Health officials said the initial doses will be prioritised for high-risk groups, including young women, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and key populations disproportionately affected by HIV.
Uganda is among the top ten high-burden countries selected to access the injectable through support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, as part of a broader United States-backed initiative to accelerate HIV prevention in heavily affected nations.
According to the Uganda AIDS Commission, an estimated 1.5 million people were living with HIV in Uganda as of late 2024, with approximately 730 new infections recorded weekly.
While oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains available, experts say the twice-yearly injectable could significantly improve adherence, particularly among young women and other vulnerable groups who struggle with daily medication.
The US government and the Global Fund are co-financing an advanced market commitment aimed at making the drug accessible to up to two million people across high-burden countries by 2028.
Dr Hudson Balidawa, a senior official overseeing Global Fund HIV investments, previously noted that once authorised by the National Drug Authority, the drug would be distributed through public HIV prevention programmes and also made available to private-sector clinics for those able to purchase it.
Health authorities have clarified that Lenacapavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. Instead, it is a preventive medicine designed to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV among HIV-negative individuals at substantial risk.
Officials say the introduction of the long-acting injectable signals a new chapter in Uganda’s prevention strategy, as the country seeks to reduce new infections and move closer to epidemic control.
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