The United States government has announced plans to introduce a new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, in Uganda through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This long-acting injection, given only twice a year, is expected to transform HIV prevention efforts, though its success will depend on a strong and well-managed healthcare system.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Embassy in Kampala on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and names Uganda as one of ten high-burden HIV countries selected for the drug’s initial rollout, expected to begin in 2026. Clinical trials have shown lenacapavir to be over 99% effective, offering a highly convenient alternative to daily oral pills for people at high risk of HIV.
The introduction of lenacapavir is considered a major breakthrough, especially for key populations and vulnerable groups, such as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, who may find it difficult to take daily medication consistently.
“This medicine is an excellent example of how American leadership drives innovation to save lives,” said U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp. He praised the collaboration between American pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences and Ugandan researchers, calling it a “medical breakthrough to reduce new HIV infections in the communities that need it most.”
The U.S. government, working with the Global Fund, has committed to an advanced market purchase of lenacapavir for up to 2 million people across all ten selected countries by 2028. To ensure long-term affordability, Gilead Sciences has agreed to sell the drug at $50 per dose, equivalent to less than UGX 200,000, depending on the exchange rate and to share its intellectual property with generic manufacturers to help lower costs in the future.
In June 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved injectable lenacapavir (brand name: Yeztugo) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), making it the first twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention option. It was also approved for HIV treatment in the European Union (August 2022), Canada (November 2022), and the United States (December 2022), where it is sold under the brand name Sunlenca.
