District and city leaders across the Lango Sub-region have been urged to allocate at least 0.1 percent of their local government budgets to school-based HIV/AIDS prevention and support programmes as part of efforts to curb new infections among learners. The appeal was made during a regional engagement organised by the Uganda AIDS Commission, which brought together district education officers, head teachers, health officials, and local government representatives to discuss the role of schools in preventing HIV infections among adolescents and young people.
Participants noted that although Uganda has made notable progress in reducing HIV-related deaths and expanding access to treatment, more resources are still required at the local level to address emerging risks among school-going children, including substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and unsafe sexual behaviour. Speaking on behalf of the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Maureen Kwikiriza said achieving Uganda’s target of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 will require increased investment in prevention, awareness, testing, and treatment services targeting adolescents.
She emphasised that district and city authorities have a critical role in financing school-based interventions and ensuring that allocated resources are used effectively. “We need stronger multi-sectoral coordination and resource mobilization if we are to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma by 2030,” Dr Kwikiriza said.
She warned of what she described as a growing but often overlooked challenge of drug and substance abuse among learners, noting that it increases vulnerability to risky sexual behaviour and HIV infection. Dr Kwikiriza called for stronger collaboration among communities, schools, parents, and religious institutions to address the challenge before it escalates further.
She also encouraged schools and communities to promote HIV testing, abstinence, faithfulness, proper condom use among sexually active individuals, and uptake of modern prevention options such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-acting injectable HIV prevention medication.
Education officials at the meeting stressed that schools remain a key platform for HIV prevention and health promotion among young people. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Henry Semakula said the government has deliberately positioned schools at the centre of HIV prevention efforts through curriculum reforms and partnerships with health stakeholders.
He explained that health education has been integrated into Uganda’s competency-based curriculum to equip learners with knowledge, values, and life skills needed to protect themselves from HIV and other health risks. Semakula added that the ministry is reviewing the upper secondary curriculum to further strengthen health education, while continuing collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Uganda AIDS Commission, religious leaders, and development partners.
He further noted that teacher training, peer education initiatives, and mentorship programmes have been expanded to help schools address challenges such as HIV, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and mental health concerns. Semakula also highlighted the importance of school feeding programmes, saying well-nourished learners are more likely to remain in school and less vulnerable to behaviours that expose them to HIV infection.
“Schools must remain safe spaces where young people receive knowledge, guidance, and life skills to make informed decisions,” he said. While supporting the call for increased investment, education officials from the region raised concerns about the challenges schools face in supporting learners living with HIV. Otuke District Education Officer Lucy Aceng said stigma remains a major barrier, making it difficult for schools to identify and support learners who require treatment adherence and specialised care. She noted that limited information sharing between families, schools, and health facilities often leaves education managers unaware of learners’ health needs.
“Because of the fear of stigma, it is often difficult for schools to know which children need special support. Yet as education managers, we want to ensure that learners living with HIV are properly cared for both at school and at home,” Aceng said. She also expressed concern over the lack of school feeding programmes in many rural areas, saying this creates challenges for learners on antiretroviral therapy, which often requires adequate nutrition.
Aceng called for the revival and distribution of HIV/AIDS education materials previously supplied to schools, arguing that teachers need updated reference resources to strengthen awareness and prevention efforts. Her concerns were echoed by other participants, who called for increased funding for school feeding programmes, psychosocial support services, health education materials, and stronger coordination between schools and health facilities.
Lira City Education Officer Canon Jane Obeny commended the government for sustaining free access to antiretroviral treatment, saying it has significantly improved the lives of people living with HIV. However, she expressed concern that some parents enrol HIV-positive learners in schools without informing administrators, making it difficult for institutions to provide appropriate support and monitor treatment adherence.
“The source of our pain are parents who enrol HIV-positive learners and fail to inform school authorities of their health status. We are really suffering, and I’m talking out of experience,” Obeny said. Health officials said such concerns highlight the need for stronger collaboration between parents, schools, and healthcare providers to ensure learners living with HIV receive appropriate support while safeguarding their privacy and dignity.
According to national HIV statistics presented during the meeting, Uganda has reduced HIV-related deaths by 64 percent, from 56,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024. However, more than 1.5 million people are living with HIV, with about 1.3 million currently on treatment. Lira City HIV Focal Person Dr Hillary Okello said sustaining these gains will depend on continued prevention efforts, particularly among adolescents and young people, who remain among the most vulnerable groups.
Participants concluded that allocating at least 0.1 percent of local government budgets to HIV interventions in schools would provide dedicated funding to strengthen prevention campaigns, support learners living with HIV, improve health education, and contribute to Uganda’s goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
