Agency
The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has warned that the failure by several district local governments to utilize funds allocated for HIV/AIDS mainstreaming could undermine efforts to curb rising infections in the Acholi Sub-region.
The concern was raised during a regional meeting held in Gulu City to train district health educators, communication officers, and HIV focal persons on strengthening HIV/AIDS communication strategies at the district level.
Dr. Peter Wakooba, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the commission, said the problem persists despite clear funding directives issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
During the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial years, the ministry directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including local governments, to allocate 0.1 percent of their budgets to HIV/AIDS mainstreaming activities.
However, Dr. Wakooba said many districts allocate the funds on paper but fail to utilize them.
During his presentation, Dr. Wakooba shared data obtained from the finance ministry showing a worrying trend of under-utilization of HIV mainstreaming funds across several districts in the Acholi Sub-region during the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year.
In Amuru District, the local government allocated 29.063 million shillings for HIV mainstreaming but released only 2.74 million shillings, of which 1.92 million shillings was spent.
Similarly, Nwoya District had a budget of 28 million shillings, but only 7 million shillings was released for the quarter, with 3.6 million shillings spent.
In Lamwo District, out of a budget of 17.7 million shillings, only 4.6 million shillings was released and 2.3 million shillings spent.
The situation was even more concerning in Gulu District, which allocated 5.9 million shillings, released 1.5 million shillings, but spent only 100,000 shillings.
Meanwhile, Gulu City budgeted 4 million shillings and released 500,000 shillings for the first quarter, but no expenditure had been recorded, according to the commission’s data.
Dr. Wakooba warned that minimal or nonexistent spending on HIV mainstreaming is alarming, especially since the Acholi Sub-region continues to record infection rates above the national average.
He noted that Gulu City in particular registers HIV prevalence above the national average, underscoring the need for stronger and coordinated interventions.
Dr. Wakooba also noted that recent funding cuts from USAID have forced several implementing partners to scale down HIV/AIDS programmes, making it even more critical for local governments to utilize the 0.1 percent budget allocation.
According to the commission, Uganda’s national HIV prevalence stands at 4.9 percent, while the Acholi Sub-region records 5.9 percent.
