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By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has officially launched an innovative digital health application dubbed HIViCare, a groundbreaking platform designed to improve access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and counseling services etc among Uganda’s most vulnerable and high-risk populations.
The launch, held at Fair Way Hotel in Kampala, brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, Uganda Communications Commission, development partners, innovators, health practitioners and representatives from the private sector to review progress under the Healthcare Digital Access Initiative implemented through UCC’s e-Booster Programme.
The HIViCare application, operated by Dandelion Logistics Company Limited with support from UCC, allows users to access a range of HIV-related services directly from their smartphones. The app enables users to register confidentially and request services including HIV testing, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) medication, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Tuberculosis care, counseling, prevention kits and home visits.
Once requested, the services are delivered free of charge to the user’s doorstep by trained health workers, a move officials say is intended to remove barriers that often prevent vulnerable populations from seeking care.
Since its inception in January 2026, the HIV iCare platform has already been rolled out in four districts including Masaka at Nyendo Health Centre III, Kampala at Marpi Clinic Mulago, Mbarara at Kagote Health Centre III and Fort Portal.
Speaking during the launch, Sofia Naluwu, a Clinical Officer and Coordinator at HIViCare Nyendo Health Centre III, said the innovation specifically targets populations at high risk of HIV infection including sex workers, fisher fox, long-distance truck drivers, adolescent girls and young women among others.
“We are targeting vulnerable populations who often face stigma, fear and difficulties accessing healthcare services,” Naluwu explained. “Through this app, they can confidentially request services and receive care without exposing themselves to discrimination.”
The launch highlighted the growing role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in addressing Uganda’s healthcare challenges, especially in underserved communities where access to health facilities remains limited.
Eng. Arnold Bareba Mujuni, Head of Technical Services at the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF) under UCC, said the HIV iCare initiative aligns with Uganda’s broader digital transformation agenda.
“e-Booster is a flagship project under UCC that drives innovation through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund,” Mujuni said. “While UCC is widely known as the regulator of telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services, we also have a responsibility to promote ICT access and innovation in underserved parts of the country.”
He explained that the work of UCUSAF supports Uganda’s Digital Transformation Roadmap and National Development Plan by expanding broadband connectivity, promoting digital literacy, supporting innovation and ensuring cybersecurity adoption.
Mujuni noted that UCC’s support for the HIV iCare platform was driven by concern over Uganda’s HIV burden and the urgent need for innovative interventions.
“Uganda currently has around 1.3 million people living with HIV, with approximately 37,000 new infections recorded last year and nearly 30,000 deaths. These are worrying figures,” he said.
“When Dandelion came up with this proposal, we realized this was exactly the type of impactful innovation that the Universal Service Fund should support. Technology must be used to improve access to healthcare services, especially among the underserved.”
He cited findings from the 2025 UNAIDS Global AIDS Report which indicated that HIV prevention and treatment services globally continue to face funding pressures, stigma and inequalities in access.
“The report emphasizes the need for digital innovations and community-centered healthcare delivery models,” Mujuni noted. “This is why HIV iCare is timely and important.”
According to UCC statistics shared during the event, Uganda currently has 47.1 million active mobile subscriptions, approximately 18.5 million mobile internet users and more than 20 million smartphones in use.
Mujuni said internet coverage now reaches over 70 percent of the country, with nearly 80 percent of Ugandans covered by 3G services.
“These statistics show that digital platforms are no longer optional tools,” he said. “They are now central to how Ugandans access information, healthcare, education and economic opportunities.”
He added that HIV iCare emerged among the top six innovations supported under the UCC e-Booster Programme, which has an annual budget of approximately Shs3 billion.
Each supported innovation reportedly receives at least Shs300 million to facilitate implementation and scaling.
“What makes this initiative unique is its focus on confidentiality, dignity, accessibility and inclusion,” Mujuni emphasized. “Users can access HIV testing services, treatment support, health education resources and counseling through mobile and web-based technologies.”
He also revealed that the HIV iCare team has already conducted trainings for health workers, stakeholder engagements and community awareness campaigns as part of implementation efforts.
“At UCC and specifically UCUSAF, we believe connectivity must translate into meaningful impact in people’s lives,” he said. “Technology should reduce barriers, improve health outcomes and restore dignity to vulnerable communities.”
Officials from the Ministry of Health welcomed UCC’s entry into the HIV response space, describing the collaboration as long overdue.
Dr. Peter Mudiope, Head of Prevention at the Ministry of Health, said UCC’s involvement represents a major breakthrough in efforts to integrate digital technology into public health interventions.
“To be honest, UCC is one of the last institutions I expected to see deeply involved in HIV response,” Dr. Mudiope remarked. “But their coming on board to create impact and leave a footprint is something we have desired for a very long time.”
He said communication around HIV prevention has often faced challenges and stigma, making digital platforms an important tool for reaching vulnerable populations discreetly.
“This collaboration is extremely important,” he added. “We hope we can stay together until 2030 because our target is to ensure HIV is no longer considered a public health threat by then.”
Dr. Mudiope explained that Uganda’s HIV response strategy is increasingly shifting toward community-centered interventions rather than relying solely on hospital-based treatment.
“The Ministry has changed its strategy,” he said. “We are no longer waiting for people to come to hospitals after becoming sick. We want to go into communities and control diseases at the source.”
He said initiatives like HIV iCare complement the Ministry’s expanded community health approach, including the deployment of Community Health Extension Workers.
“These digital platforms are very useful because they bring services closer to people,” he explained. “Even though the entry point is HIV care, this innovation can eventually expand into broader healthcare support because community demand will naturally push it in that direction.”
Dr. Mudiope also commended the project’s rapid early growth, noting that within just a few months the platform had already reached over 1,900 beneficiaries.
“That is remarkable progress,” he said.
However, he urged project implementers to widen their target populations beyond current estimates.
“We have over one million sex workers, millions involved in fishing communities, prisoners and other high-risk populations including men who have sex with men,” he said. “These groups need to be considered because they are part of the high-risk populations we must reach.”
He further stressed the importance of scaling the innovation to urban centers where high-risk behavior remains prevalent despite proximity to health facilities.
“People in urban informal settlements are difficult to reach even when hospitals are nearby,” he noted. “Many have smartphones, making digital healthcare a huge opportunity.”
The Ministry official also encouraged the HIV iCare team to continue showcasing the innovation before larger audiences to attract wider support and potential integration into national health programs.
“You have scratched the surface and discovered there is oil,” Dr. Mudiope said metaphorically. “Do not stop there. Continue pushing because this innovation has enormous potential.”
The HIV iCare launch comes at a time when Uganda and the global community are intensifying efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Stakeholders at the launch expressed optimism that digital innovations such as HIV iCare could play a critical role in improving healthcare access, reducing stigma and strengthening Uganda’s HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
As Uganda’s digital ecosystem continues to grow, officials believe integrating ICT solutions into healthcare delivery could transform access to essential services for millions of Ugandans, particularly those living in underserved and marginalized communities. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
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