By Aaron Okotel
MALE CITY
Health officials in Mbale City have issued a strong warning over alarmingly high regional HIV prevalence rates, singling out the poor supervision and exploitation of female students in hostels as a major contributing factor.
The issue was highlighted by Robert Wandwasi, the HIV AIDS Program Coordinator for Mbale, during the Mbale HIV AIDS Awareness Day held, Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Malukhu District Grounds.
Mr. Wandwasi warned that the lack of control and proper standards in these youth facilities exposes young girls to severe exploitation, creating a significant barrier to reaching the national goal of ending the epidemic by 2030.
“In Mbale now, most people have turned around. They want to go and buy the younger people who stay in hostels because the girls in hostels are cheaper,” Robert Wandwasi revealed. “It’s just buying something small, some good shoes, and they will take.”
He called on the administrations of Mbale City and District to urgently enforce standards, bring proprietors to order, and ensure hostels operate as safe, supervised residences for students.
The Coordinator backed his warning with sobering regional statistics, confirming the uphill battle against the virus.
“In this region, we are not doing well at all because our prevalence looks to be high,” Robert stated. “Mbale City is at 4.9%, and when you look at Mbale District rural, it is 3.3%. On average in the Bugisu region, we are above 4.5%, which means we are not doing well, considering our countrywide rate is around 5.1 to 5.2%.”
The challenge, however, is not limited to young people. Mr. Wandwasi pointed to widespread complacency among the adult population, revealing that 50% of adults engaging in multiple sexual partnerships are not using condoms consistently.
Nabugosi Ali, the Bugisu Regional Coordinator of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), reiterated the urgent need for collaborative action, starting at the family level. He stressed “the importance of parental responsibility, encouraging parents to follow up on their children residing in hostels.”
Ali also highlighted the ongoing, proactive efforts to integrate awareness into cultural practices, noting the training of circumcision surgeons to pass on protective information before, during, and after cultural events like Imbalu. The message from the ground is clear: achieving an HIV-free generation requires strict supervision, open communication, and consistent safe practices across the entire community.
