By URN
AIDS care providers in Uganda have appealed to the government to waive inspection fees on imported condoms to help address the ongoing shortage in the country. The National Drug Authority (NDA) is responsible for verifying and ensuring the quality of all imported condoms before distribution to Ugandans.
While the government scrapped importation fees on medical supplies, including condoms, care providers argue that inspection fees remain a barrier to condom distribution. According to Henry Magala, the Country Programs Director for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) – Uganda Cares, these fees have discouraged the importation of donated condoms. He explains that any charges on medical supplies meant for free distribution negatively impact importers who do not profit from them.
“We ask the National Drug Authority to waive these inspection fees, just as it did with importation fees. This would support the HIV/AIDS campaign,” Magala says. If the request is granted, he believes they will be able to import more condoms, particularly benefiting remote and high-risk communities such as landing sites. He further disclosed that importers pay over UGX 300,000 per batch, totaling approximately UGX 5 million for every two million condoms imported. Since 2009, AHF-Uganda Cares has imported over 50 million condoms.
“Condoms remain the best option for people to stay safe during intimacy, offering up to 95% protection. However, many people are still reluctant to use them, contributing to the high number of new HIV cases,” Magala adds. Boniface Epuku, the Program Lead for Condom Programming at the Ministry of Health, emphasizes that effective condom use is a key tool in curbing new HIV infections. He also warns that with looming cuts in HIV treatment support, Uganda must return to the basics of encouraging condom use.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that condoms are available and distributed across the country, along with increasing the number of dispensers,” Epuku says. He notes that the government procures and distributes about 200 million condoms annually, but reduced funding calls for more efforts in distribution and awareness. Since 2024, condom shortages have been a major concern, with many citizens reporting empty dispensers at health centers nationwide.
In response, some individuals in hard-to-reach areas, including islands and landing sites, have resorted to reusing condoms or using polythene bags as alternatives. Uganda marked World Condom Day on Monday in Kalungu, one of the districts in the Greater Masaka Region with high HIV prevalence among adults aged 15–49.
According to Uganda AIDS Commission statistics, Kalangala has an HIV prevalence rate of 13.1%, followed by Kyotera at 12.2%, Masaka City at 11.2%, Kalungu at 9.9%, Masaka at 9.2%, Bukomansimbi at 9.1%, Lwengo at 8.4%, Lyantonde at 8.3%, Sembabule at 6.2%, and Rakai at 5.2%.
