Ministry of ICT joins Buganda Kingdom in fighting HIV/AIDS

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance joined the Buganda Kingdom, other Government MDAs, various private-sector players, and thousands of people in participating in the 13th edition of the Kabaka’s Birthday Run on the 12th of April, 2026, at Lubiri Palace, Mengo. The event, held in commemoration of the King’s 71st birthday, was themed, “Men for Good Health to Save the Girl Child and the Fight to End HIV/AIDS by 2030.” Addressing the participants, the Katikkiro of the Buganda Kingdom, Owekitibwa Charles Peter Mayiga, called upon the youth to avoid complacency by actively consolidating the gains made in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the years. The fight against HIV/AIDs has not only been central to Buganda Kingdom’s initiatives, but also to that of the Government of Uganda. Statistics show that HIV prevalence dropped from highs of 18% in the 1990’s to 4.9% by 2024. New infections also decreased to 37,000 by 2024, a massive decline from 135,000 in 2010. Recently, the global fight against HIV/AIDs witnessed a breakthrough with the development, launch and roll-out of the Lenacapavir drug by Gilead Sciences. Also known as Sunlenca, this is a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention (PrEP) drug approved as a long-acting option over daily pills. The drug is currently rolled out for high-burden and high-priority populations, with widespread expansion expected through 2028. In spite of all these gains, data from the Uganda Aids Commission indicates that approximately 15 to 16 young women and adolescent girls aged 15-24 are infected with HIV every day in Uganda, and in general, about 277 Ugandans get infected with HIV every day. This calls for greater sensitisation and awareness through initiatives such as the Kabaka’s Birthday Run. In 2017, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched the “Presidential Fast-track Initiative on ending HIV/AIDs in Uganda by 2030,” which, amongst others, seeks to accelerate efforts towards zero new infections and zero discrimination. The three races of 5 km, 10 km and 21 km were officially flagged off by Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the King of Buganda.