Ministry of Tourism Joins Ministry of Public Service In Candlelight Memorial Day Commemoration

May 20
4 min read

Kampala, Uganda – May 19, 2026

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities on Tuesday joined the rest of Uganda and the global community in commemorating the International Candlelight Memorial Day, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening workplace health interventions and supporting national efforts to end AIDS by 2030.

Held under the theme “Ending AIDS by 2030: Embracing the Role of Women,” the national commemoration brought together government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, health advocates and communities to honour lives lost to HIV/AIDS while renewing collective commitment towards ending the epidemic.

The day’s activities commenced with a solidarity walk from City Square to Kitante Hill Secondary School, where the main commemorative event was held. The Ministry of Tourism was represented by the Human Resource Unit headed by the Acting Commissioner Human Resource, Mrs. Ritah Kabugho, alongside 30 members of staff who participated in the memorial activities in solidarity with persons living with HIV and communities affected by the disease.

The national event was presided over by the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda, together with officials from the Uganda AIDS Commission. The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, attended as keynote speaker, while the United States Deputy Chief of Mission to Uganda, Mikael “Mika” Cleverley, was among the dignitaries present. Ministers, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, researchers, academia and development partners also attended the commemoration.

In her remarks as chief guest, Hon. Babalanda called for renewed national commitment towards ending AIDS by 2030, with particular emphasis on empowering and supporting women and girls who continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV infections in Uganda. She urged institutions, families and communities to strengthen support systems for vulnerable groups and sustain awareness campaigns aimed at prevention, care and stigma reduction.

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe underscored the importance of collective responsibility in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She called for strengthened accountability in public health systems, greater compassion towards persons living with HIV and sustained community involvement in combating stigma and discrimination.

Deputy IGG Muhairwe noted that ending AIDS would require a united national response anchored in inclusion, dignity and empowerment, especially for women and girls who remain disproportionately affected by the epidemic.

Meanwhile, the Director of Planning and Strategic Information at the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Vincent Bagambe, cautioned that despite Uganda’s remarkable progress in reducing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, the fight against HIV/AIDS was far from over.

Dr. Bagambe revealed that Uganda recorded approximately 37,000 new HIV infections in 2024, with young women and girls aged between 15 and 24 accounting for the majority of adolescent infections. He stressed the urgent need for sustained prevention efforts, stronger community awareness and enhanced support systems if the country is to realise the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

**Director of Planning and Strategic Information, Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Vincent Bagambe**

He further called upon government institutions, religious leaders, development partners, the media and local communities to strengthen collective action against HIV/AIDS while ensuring continued access to testing, treatment and prevention services.

The Ministry’s participation comes only months after it launched its HIV/TB Workplace Policy in December last year in response to the President’s national call for shared responsibility, stigma-free workplaces and strengthened institutional responses to HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis across government institutions.

The policy seeks to promote awareness, prevention, care, support and non-discrimination within the workplace while ensuring that staff members remain informed, protected and empowered. Ministry officials noted that workplace-based interventions continue to play a critical role in combating HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis through early testing, treatment adherence, sensitisation and the creation of supportive working environments free from stigma and discrimination.

Uganda has over the years registered significant progress in reducing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths through sustained government leadership, community mobilisation and strong partnerships with stakeholders. According to statistics shared during the commemoration, HIV prevalence declined slightly from 5.1 percent in 2023 to 4.9 percent in 2024, while annual AIDS-related deaths reduced significantly from 54,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024.

Approximately 1.5 million Ugandans are currently living with HIV, with about 1.3 million on antiretroviral therapy. However, young women and girls continue to face disproportionate vulnerability, with four out of every five newly infected young people being female.

Speaking during the memorial activities, Acting Commisiioner Human resource at the ministry of tourism wildlife and antiquities, Mrs Ritah Kabugho, underscored the importance of compassion, collective responsibility and continuous awareness campaigns in preserving the gains made in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial remains one of the world’s longest-running grassroots mobilisation campaigns dedicated to remembering lives lost to AIDS, reducing stigma and inspiring hope among survivors, families and affected communities.

As part of its continued commitment to staff wellness and a resilient tourism workforce, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities will on 28th May 2026 mainstream her institutional commemorative activities under the theme: “Promoting Healthy Workplaces for a Resilient Tourism Sector.”

The planned engagements will focus on wellness sensitisation, awareness creation, voluntary testing advocacy and strengthening workplace support systems as the tourism sector increasingly embraces people-centred and health-conscious development.