With just five years left before Uganda’s target of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat, universities are facing renewed scrutiny over how much they are actually doing to prevent new infections among young people on their campuses.
Health officials say that despite years of investment and expanded epidemic control programmes, students remain among the groups most vulnerable to HIV, largely due to risky sexual behaviour, limited access to prevention services, and persistent gaps in awareness.
Central to the concern is whether universities are complying with the national HIV policy requirement to set aside 0.1 percent of their budgets specifically for HIV prevention initiatives targeting staff, students, and surrounding communities. According to health officials, institutions that fail to allocate this funding are simply not meeting national policy.
At Kyambogo University, student leaders say several initiatives are already in place to protect students, including medical camps offering HIV testing and condom distribution. Guild President Edward Agaba acknowledged that while these interventions are ongoing, some students continue engaging in risky sexual behaviour, urging them to practice safe sex and know their status.
At Makerere University, student leaders say they are working alongside the university hospital to strengthen prevention efforts. Guild Health Minister Ebenezer Wamezaya said the university is planning a health week that will offer free HIV testing and distribute preventive materials to students, alongside a push for peer education programmes designed to get students talking more openly about sexual and reproductive health.
Beyond individual university efforts, health organisations have also ramped up engagement with students through forums and awareness campaigns. Jackson Chekweko, Executive Director of Reproductive Health Uganda, said reaching young people directly is key to shifting behaviour and improving access to accurate information, pointing to the organisation’s youth-hosted online radio content on sexual and reproductive health as one tool that makes it easier for students to engage with their peers. He added that the organisation also runs annual inter-university dialogues bringing students together to discuss these challenges.
The Uganda AIDS Commission is placing the responsibility squarely on universities, saying institutions need to establish strong HIV prevention programmes of their own before seeking external support. Dr Daniel Byamukama, head of HIV Prevention at the commission, said universities should set up their own measures first, stressing that the commission stands ready to help but institutions must not fail to meet the national policy on budget allocation for prevention.
A 2024 report by the Uganda AIDS Commission found that more than 5,000 new HIV infections occurred among young people aged 15 to 24, underlining just how high the stakes are for this age group specifically.
As Uganda works toward its 2030 HIV elimination target, health experts say young people themselves need to take greater responsibility for their health, whether that means knowing their HIV status, practising safe sex, or abstaining altogether. Sustained prevention efforts within university communities, experts argue, will be critical to cutting down new infections and HIV-related deaths in the years ahead.
