Uganda must rethink HIV testing to reach those who don’t know their status-Experts
Public health experts in Uganda are calling for a shift in HIV testing strategies to reach undiagnosed individuals. Preliminary findings from the 2025 UPHIA survey indicate that while treatment progress is strong, targeted community-based testing is necessary to close the remaining gap.
Why it matters
Improving HIV detection rates is critical for achieving long-term viral suppression and controlling the epidemic in high-burden regions.
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Kampala, Uganda | URN | Public health specialists have called for new strategies to identify Ugandans who are living with HIV but remain unaware of their status, warning that traditional facility-based testing alone may not be enough as the population continues to grow.
The call follows the release of preliminary findings of the 2025 Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA), which show that although Uganda has made significant progress in HIV treatment and viral suppression, a sizeable number of people living with HIV still do not know their status.
Kenneth Mwehonge, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development, says health authorities need to move beyond conventional facility-based testing and deliberately target communities and population groups where new and undiagnosed infections are concentrated.
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