Dr. Nelson Musoba

I express my appreciation to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni @KagutaMuseveni on my re-appointment as Minister for the Presidency. I am deeply humbled and honoured by the trust and confidence you have placed in me through my re-appointment as Minister for the Presidency in the cabinet for the term 2026–2031. Your leadership and vision for Uganda continue to inspire service anchored in patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy. I receive this appointment not as a personal achievement but as a renewed call to duty to serve the people of Uganda with integrity, diligence, and commitment to the NRM Manifesto and the country’s development agenda. I pledge to execute my responsibilities with loyalty, accountability, and focus on delivering tangible results under the guidance of your administration. It is my commitment to uphold the values of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), strengthen coordination within the Presidency, and support the realisation of Uganda’s Vision 2040. I thank Your Excellency for this opportunity to continue serving our nation. May the Almighty God grant you wisdom, strength, and good health as you steer Uganda to greater heights. Psalm :107:42: "God acts justly and restores order, righteous people recognize it and rejoice, while the evil souls are silenced".

Today, I officiated the commemoration of the International Candlelight Memorial 2026, themed "Ending AIDS by 2030: Embracing the Role of Women", held at Kitante Hill Secondary School, Kampala, to remember millions of lives that have been lost to AIDS-related illnesses across the world, including Ugandans whose contributions to their families and communities were cut short. We honour their memory and stand in solidarity with all families and communities affected by HIV and AIDS. The occasion reminded us how far Uganda has come in the fight against HIV/AIDS and renewed our determination to finish the journey toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Uganda's HIV response remains one of the most remarkable public health stories on the African continent. From a period in the 1980s and early 1990s when HIV threatened our nation, Uganda rose through strong political leadership, community mobilisation, openness, and collective responsibility. I paid special tribute to H.E. President Yoweri @KagutaMuseveni for the bold and consistent leadership he has provided since the beginning of the epidemic. Under his leadership, Uganda confronted HIV openly at a time when many countries feared to do so. That courage saved countless lives and laid the foundation for the progress we celebrate today. Today, Uganda has made tremendous gains: New HIV infections have significantly declined over the years; AIDS-related deaths have greatly reduced; approximately 1.4 million Ugandans are accessing life-saving Antiretroviral treatment, mother-to-child transmission has drastically reduced, and Uganda has moved closer to the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. These achievements are not accidental; they are the result of deliberate government commitment, resilient communities, committed health workers, civil society organisations, development partners, religious and cultural institutions, and the courage of people living with HIV themselves. As we celebrate progress, we must also confront the truth with honesty and urgency: the fight is not yet over. Uganda still records thousands of new HIV infections every year. Young women and girls remain disproportionately affected. Many men are still not testing early enough or enrolling in treatment. Stigma and discrimination continue to prevent some Ugandans from seeking services. HIV-related vulnerabilities linked to poverty, gender inequality, unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse, and harmful social practices still persist in our communities. Ending AIDS is not the responsibility of women alone. Every Ugandan has a role to play: parents must guide and protect their children. Men must test, know their status, and seek treatment early. Young people must make responsible choices. Religious and cultural leaders must continue using their platforms to promote positive values and fight stigma. Leaders at every level must mainstream HIV in planning, budgeting, and service delivery. I commend the Uganda AIDS Commission for coordinating the multi-sectoral response and for championing strategies aimed at sustainability, resilience, HIV mainstreaming, and stronger national coordination mechanisms. The Government of Uganda remains firmly committed to ensuring uninterrupted access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services across the country. No Ugandan should be denied lifesaving services because of stigma, poverty, or geographic location. All ministries, departments, agencies, local governments, and the private sector must fully integrate HIV into their development plans and accountability frameworks. We must strengthen community ownership and patriotism in the HIV response because ending AIDS is not merely a health sector responsibility – it is a national development imperative. I thank all development partners, civil society organisations, health workers, researchers, cultural and religious leaders, communities, and people living with HIV for standing with Uganda throughout this journey.