The Kagera Regional Government has received two HIV prevention projects—one focusing on male and adolescent circumcision (VMMC) and the other on empowering girls and women (Dreams)—funded by a non-governmental organization (MDH) that works on community health in HIV prevention, services, and treatment.
Representing the Government, Assistant Administrative Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Bwahi Biseko, received the projects in Bukoba. He stated that these projects were financed through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which initially targeted circumcision services reaching 539,835 men and boys in Kagera Region.
He noted that this figure is about 95% of the targeted population since the project’s inception in 2016, aiming to reduce new HIV infections. The government is committed to continuing these efforts.
"Now that we have integrated these services into routine healthcare, we must ensure that existing systems are used to sustain the circumcision services to keep them accessible and operational as before the project was handed over to us,” Biseko said.
He added that he has been monitoring the situation and learned that service delivery has decreased significantly—while during the project, clinics performed between 200 to 500 circumcisions per month, currently they record only one or two cases.
This decline signals to them, as leaders and service providers, the need to intensify efforts to ensure the services are sustainable and continue to be provided to Kagera residents.
The government is planning to continue and expand these projects to provide quality services without interruption, reassuring the public to dispel fears of losing access to such services.
Regarding the Dreams project, which aims to empower girls and women economically and reduce HIV vulnerability, approximately 54,000 women and girls in Bukoba and Muleba Municipalities have benefited.
He emphasized that the project has made significant progress since its launch six years ago, with beneficiaries now engaging in substantial income-generating activities that keep them occupied and away from risky behaviors that could lead to HIV infection.
He also encouraged youth involved in the project to produce high-quality products to compete in the current market.
Additionally, he urged various organizations and stakeholders involved in HIV prevention to collaborate and find effective ways to sustain efforts, especially now when donors have withdrawn.
MDH’s Acting Chief Executive Officer from headquarters, Dr. Emmanuel Sima, said that about 60% of the men circumcised were reached through outreach programs, while 40% came directly to clinics.
He reassured that handing over these two projects to the government does not mark the end of MDH’s support in Kagera; they will continue to assist and support health services in the region as they always have.
Leonida Rweyemamu, a nurse who started working on the circumcision project in 2016, explained that initially, the community was hesitant to accept the service due to beliefs that circumcision was exclusive to Muslims.
“During the beginning, many men refused services because they thought the government was trying to convert people to Islam. However, MDH and the government used various communication channels—media, community meetings, schools, religious leaders, and government officials—to educate the community,” Rweyemamu said
He added that men were educated about the benefits of circumcision, including a 60% reduction in HIV transmission, improved hygiene, and cancer prevention for women. As awareness grew, the number of clients increased, and monthly circumcisions rose from about 200 to higher numbers at clinics and outreach points.
Adelitus Mulokozi, a resident of Bukoba Municipality and a beneficiary of the circumcision program, said
that as a child, he was told that circumcision was a religious requirement for Muslims, which led many in the region to avoid the procedure.
“I am grateful to the government and MDH for bringing this service. I was educated about its benefits, so I chose to undergo circumcision. I also took my two sons for the procedure. It helps reduce HIV infection risk and protects women from cervical cancer,” Mulokozi shared.
Dilica Deogratias, a young woman who benefited from the Dreams project after receiving training at the Sido Center in Kagera, now produces and sells soap and batik, earning her income.
“This project has helped me become independent and avoid reliance on relatives or peers who might have bad intentions. It also helps me resist risky behaviors that could lead to HIV infection,” Deogratias explained.
She added that she now spends much of her time working with her group to produce and sell products, which helps her stay safe from HIV.