Uganda is preparing to roll out Lenacapavir, a revolutionary HIV prevention injection that offers protection for six months per dose. This development follows successful global research in which Ugandan scientists played a key role.
According to the Uganda AIDS Commission, the injection has been proven to offer 100% protection to HIV-negative individuals, marking it as one of the most effective tools yet in the fight against new infections.
The announcement, made through an official press release issued by the Commission under the Office of the President, marks a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. Uganda is among the few countries that participated in the global research which led to this breakthrough, and local scientists were directly involved in the trials that confirmed the effectiveness of Lenacapavir as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
“The Uganda AIDS Commission informs the Ugandan public that research on the use of Lenacapavir for PrEP has successfully established that this six-monthly injection offers 100% protection to HIV-negative individuals against acquiring HIV,” the Commission stated.
The announcement comes after the United States Food and Drug Administration granted full approval for the production and use of Lenacapavir. The Uganda AIDS Commission confirmed that the Ministry of Health, in consultation with key stakeholders, will begin the process of making the drug available locally. The initiative is seen as a major step forward in the country’s efforts to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
To pave the way for Lenacapavir’s availability, the Ministry of Health has outlined several actions to be taken. The National Drug Authority will evaluate and license the drug for use in Uganda. National HIV prevention guidelines will be updated to include Lenacapavir, while healthcare providers across the country will undergo training to ensure they can safely prescribe and monitor its use. The drug will also be incorporated into Uganda’s list of essential medicines. In addition, new data systems will be developed to track usage and ensure accountability as the rollout progresses.
Once these systems are in place, Lenacapavir will become part of Uganda’s broader HIV prevention program, targeting individuals who are most at risk of infection. This includes those who have found it difficult to stick to daily oral PrEP regimens. The injectable offers a discreet, long-lasting, and convenient alternative, especially for women, adolescents, and key populations.
Even as the country gears up for the introduction of Lenacapavir, oral PrEP and the bi-monthly injectable Cabotegravir remain available at select health facilities. Cabotegravir, which is already being administered under national HIV guidelines, has shown high effectiveness and is expected to complement the new six-month option.
In the meantime, oral PrEP will continue to be available in designated health facilities. Uganda also continues to roll out Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), another injectable HIV prevention drug that provides protection for two months per dose and has already been incorporated into national guidelines.
According to the Uganda AIDS Commission, efforts to make CAB-LA locally available are also underway.
This development comes as Uganda steps up its commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030.
The Uganda AIDS Commission reaffirmed the government’s pledge:
“Uganda remains committed to providing effective and innovative solutions to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”
The cost of Lenacapavir remains a critical concern. Gilead Sciences, the drug’s manufacturer, has set the U.S. annual list price at approximately $28,218 (~UGX 101 million), while critics including UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima have called on the company to dramatically reduce the price . Independent studies suggest a generic version could be produced for as little as $25–46 per person per year, or roughly UGX 95,000 to 175,000, offering a potentially transformative solution for Uganda’s largely resource-limited public health sector.
Gilead has entered voluntary licensing agreements with six generic manufacturers and plans to supply Lenacapavir at cost to up to 18 low-income countries including Uganda, pending regulatory clearances