KAMPALA – The Ministry of Health has warned that the twice-yearly HIV prevention jab, lenacapavir, does not protect users against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This follows the recent official launch of the lenacapavir injection at Lira Regional Referral Hospital last week, a landmark event that signals a new era in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.
The launch, witnessed by a high-profile delegation including US Embassy Deputy Head of Mission in Uganda Mikael Cleverly, has positioned Uganda at the forefront of HIV prevention science.
The novel drug, administered as an injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), requires just two shots per year, one on the abdomen or thigh every six months, to prevent HIV infection.
Presiding over the launch, Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng hailed lenacapavir as a transformative weapon against HIV, especially for youth and key populations who struggle with daily pills.
She issued a crucial public advisory that while lenacapavir offers unprecedented efficacy against HIV, it does not protect users from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy.
“With lenacapavir, we are no longer asking people to remember a pill every day; just two shots a year can offer powerful protection against HIV. However, let me be very clear: this miracle does not stop other infections or prevent pregnancy, so condoms and comprehensive care remain essential,” said Minister Aceng.
The Executive Director of the Joint Clinical Research Centre, Dr. Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza, called lenacapavir a game-changing breakthrough that brings new hope to the entire world in the fight against HIV.
She added that the twice-yearly injection removes the daily struggle of taking pills, especially for vulnerable patients who sometimes find it hard to follow treatment guidelines.
“This is a game-changing breakthrough that brings new hope to the entire world in the fight against HIV. For vulnerable patients who struggle to follow daily treatment guidelines, the twice-yearly injection removes that heavy burden of taking pills every single day,” stated Dr. Cissy.
Meanwhile, health workers have been instructed to counsel new recipients that condoms remain essential for preventing STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and herpes, as well as for family planning.
Uganda is the second country to approve the roll-out of lenacapavir injections as a new HIV prevention method after it received 36,000 doses in February 2026 as part of a shipment from the U.S.
Uganda remains among the 10 high-burden HIV countries, with about 1.5 million people living with the disease in the country, and 4 out of every 100 people with HIV globally being from Uganda.
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