The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | URN | African scientists are urging governments across the continent to take greater ownership of HIV cure research, saying Africa must move beyond serving as a testing ground for scientific breakthroughs and become a global leader in developing an HIV cure. The call was made during the 2026 HIV Research Community Symposium in Kampala, where researchers emphasized that despite carrying the world’s highest HIV burden, Africa continues to play only a limited role in driving cure research.
Dr. Albert Machinda, Co-Principal Investigator and Head of Secretariat for the Africa HIV Cure Consortium, said Africa accounts for about 65 percent of all people living with HIV, making it imperative for the continent to lead efforts to develop a cure. He noted that HIV cure research has largely been driven by institutions in the Global North, not because Africa lacks scientific expertise, but because many governments have yet to prioritize the field through policy support and sustained investment.
Dr. Machinda urged African governments to integrate HIV cure research into their national strategic plans, establish policies that promote scientific innovation, and create an enabling environment for researchers and communities affected by HIV. He identified inadequate domestic funding as one of the greatest barriers to advancing HIV cure research, saying Africa should not continue relying primarily on external donors and international institutions to initiate research. Instead, governments should mobilize local resources while strengthening collaborations with global partners.
Dr. Machinda also called for coordinated action at both continental and national levels, saying regional advocacy must be matched by supportive national policies, effective regulatory frameworks, and investment in research capacity. While acknowledging that there is currently no widely available HIV cure, he said scientific progress has demonstrated that one is possible. He pointed out that at least ten people worldwide have been cured of HIV through highly specialized treatments, although these approaches are not yet suitable for large-scale public use.
According to Dr. Machinda, researchers are making significant progress in understanding how HIV persists in the body, how the immune system responds to the virus, and how new treatment strategies could eliminate or permanently suppress it. He expressed optimism that clinical trials of emerging cure approaches could begin in the coming years. However, he stressed that Africa must take a leading role in developing and testing these innovations rather than remaining a research site for products developed elsewhere.
He further urged governments to strengthen partnerships with universities, the private sector, researchers, and communities affected by HIV to build public awareness and generate support for investment in cure research. Dr. Machinda added that empowering people living with HIV to advocate for a cure would help governments recognize HIV cure research as a national priority and ensure that any future cure addresses Africa’s unique needs and realities.
Although HIV cure research is advancing, Dr. George Ssenyange, a research scientist specializing in HIV and sickle cell disease at the Joint Clinical Research Centre, cautioned that a widely available cure could still be years away. Until then, he said, antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains the most effective tool for controlling the epidemic. Dr. Ssenyange noted that Uganda has been recognized for successfully expanding access to HIV treatment over the years, but warned that continued adherence to medication is essential to sustain these achievements.
He said efforts are underway to ensure that emerging HIV cure technologies are developed and made accessible in Africa instead of remaining concentrated in wealthier countries. With more than 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV, Dr. Ssenyange said African scientists and research institutions must play a central role in developing and delivering future HIV cure interventions. He added that bringing advanced HIV research and treatment technologies to the continent would help ensure that the region bearing the greatest burden of the epidemic benefits directly from scientific breakthroughs.
Moses Nsubuga, commonly known as Super Charger, an HIV advocate who has lived with HIV since 1994, urged people living with HIV to continue taking their antiretroviral medicines and avoid stopping treatment unless they are enrolled in an approved HIV cure research study under strict medical supervision. He emphasized that antiretroviral therapy remains the cornerstone of HIV treatment and should never be discontinued without medical guidance.
