Many Ugandans no longer use condoms – Aids Commission

Mr Byamukama said last year alone, 53,000 people contracted HIV and warned people to continue using condoms. File photo

What you need to know:

  • The UAC has indicated Uganda imports only 200 million condoms every year compared to the required 800 million. In Uganda, one can access condoms in health facilities where government and NGOs provide them free of charge.

There is a decline in use of condoms in the country, pointing to a danger of resurgence of high HIV/Aids prevalence, according to the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC).

The UAC oversees implementation of the national strategy to combat HIV/Aids which was adopted by government in 1990.

Mr Daniel Byamukama, the UAC head of HIV prevention, said the reduction in use of condoms during sexual intercourse among Ugandans has occurred for at least the last 15 years. He said condom use fell from 61.1 per cent in 2000 to 52.1 per cent by 2016.

“We believe this is so because people are no longer seeing HIV as a threat. You can no longer identify people suffering from HIV from their physical appearance. The fear has reduced so much,” Mr Byamukama said during a media training organised by Health Journalists Network - Uganda (HEJN-U) in Kampala at the weekend.

Mr Byamukama said last year alone, 53,000 people contracted HIV and warned people to continue using condoms. Statistics from UAC also indicate that there are 1,000 new infections and 500 deaths translating into 53,000 new infections and 23,000 deaths annually. Majority of the new infections are among youth aged 15 to 24.

Dr Joyce Moriku, the State minister for Primary Healthcare, admitted the decline in use of condom and said there is need for a scientific research to establish why people are no longer using the condoms.
“This would enable us to come up with a strategic plan to address the problem,” Dr Moriku said by telephone yesterday.

Condom supply

The UAC has indicated Uganda imports only 200 million condoms every year compared to the required 800 million. In Uganda, one can access condoms in health facilities where government and NGOs provide them free of charge. In private pharmacies and shops, condoms cost between Shs2,000 and Shs10,000, depending on the brand.