UPHB Volume 11 Issue 2 April to June 2026
Dear Reader,
We take great pleasure in welcoming you to Issue 2 Volume 11 of the Uganda Public Health Bulletin.
We aim to inform the district, national, and global stake-holders on disease outbreak investigations, public health surveillance, and interventions undertaken in detecting, preventing, and responding to public health events in Uganda.
Articles in this Issue
Comparison of cholera rapid diagnostic test and culture results during a cholera outbreak response,…
Summary
Background: During outbreak response, cholera rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are used for rapid screening, while stool culture serves as the reference method for laboratory confirmation. However, the field performance of cholera…
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Uptake of the second dose of measles-rubella vaccine among children aged 18–23 months in Uganda,…
Summary
Background: Uganda introduced the second dose of measles-rubella vaccine (MR2) in 2022 to strengthen protection in the second year of life, but routine coverage has remained low. A national survey was conducted to estimate MR2…
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National trends of vaccine wastage in Uganda, 2020–2025: A descriptive analysis of four tracer…
Summary
Background: Vaccine wastage reduces immunisation efficiency, increases costs, and complicates supply forecasting. Uganda routinely monitors vaccine use, but national evidence comparing observed wastage with World Health…
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Temporal trends and spatial distribution of meningitis-related mortality in Uganda, 2021–2025
Summary
Background: Meningitis is an important cause of preventable mortality in Uganda, with deaths linked to epidemic-prone bacterial pathogens and HIV-associated opportunistic infections. Mortality trend data are useful for identifying…
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Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Capacity in Selected Private Hospitals of Western Uganda,…
Summery
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major public health threat globally, with bacterial AMR contributing to millions of deaths annually, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries like Uganda.…
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Enhanced detection of submicroscopic malaria using qPCR during an outbreak in central Uganda:…
Summary
Background: In August 2025, Mubende District, Uganda, reported a cluster of unexplained childhood deaths with fever, vomiting, and rapid progression was reported to the Ministry of Health Uganda. We conducted a tiered laboratory…
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Evaluation of the Laboratory Pillar Response during the Sudan Virus Disease Outbreak in Uganda,…
Summary
Background: Following the containment of the 2025 Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) outbreak in Uganda, the Ministry of Health conducted an After-Action Review (AAR) to document lessons across multiple response pillars as required by the…
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Chickenpox outbreak fueled by lack of vaccination and congestion among pupils in school X, Kampala…
Summary
Background: In July 2025, an unusual febrile rash illness was reported among pupils at a primary school X in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). We investigated to determine the cause and magnitude of the outbreak,…
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Measles outbreak linked to burial gatherings and household crowding in Amolatar District, Uganda,…
Summary
Background: In February 2026, Amolatar District in Northern Uganda reported a measles outbreak among children admitted into high-volume health facilities. We investigated to determine the magnitude of the outbreak, identify risk…
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Measles outbreak propagated by poor isolation practices in schools and health facilities, Mityana…
Summary
Background: In April 2025, Mityana District in Central Uganda confirmed a measles outbreak. We investigated to determine the outbreak’s magnitude, identify risk factors for transmission, assess vaccine coverage (VC), and provide…
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Factors associated with delayed care seeking among mpox cases in Mbarara City, Uganda, October…
Summary
In April 2025, Mbarara City reported Uganda’s highest mpox attack rate of 142/100,000 population. There were reported high infection rates and delayed healthcare seeking, which contribute to prolonged transmission, increased…
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Investigation of a cross-district measles outbreak in Nwoya District, Uganda, December,…
Summary
Background: Measles is a major cause of vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality in children. On February 5, 2026, the Uganda Ministry of Health was notified of a measles outbreak among residents in Nwoya District. We…
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UNIPH Recent Highlights
Venue: Esella Country Hotel Date: 13-17th July 2026
Executive Summary
The Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) Data Impact Program, with support from the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in collaboration with CDC foundation, conducted a…
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Uganda continues to strengthen its response to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) through coordinated efforts led by the Ministry of Health Incident Management System, with technical and field-level support from partners including the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program…
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Background
Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) is implementing the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program (UPHFP), an initiative to develop the next generation of public…
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The Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Baylor Foundation Uganda (Baylor Uganda), Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S CDC) is implementing the Uganda Public Health…
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Prof. Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario Otema, Director of the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH), has been awarded the inaugural 7-1-7 Research Award by the 7-1-7 Alliance, supported by Resolve to Save Lives. The award was presented on 10 June 2026 at the Global Health Security Conference in…
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The African Training Network for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Infectious Diseases Modelling (AFRITRAC) has been awarded a €1.3 million grant by Global Health EDCTP3 to build critical expertise in data-driven infectious disease control across sub-Saharan Africa.
Running from 1 May 2026 to 30…
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From 16–19 March 2026, the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) hosted a benchmarking visit by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) at the AFENET Headquarters in Kampala. The week-long engagement brought together teams from KNPHI, UNIPH, AFENET and US CDC to exchange…
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Events Volume 11 Issue 2 April to June 2026
World Population Day: 11 July, 2026
World Population Day is observed annually on 11th July to raise awareness about global population issues and their…
World Breastfeeding Week: 1–7 August 2026
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival and yet currently, fewer than…
World Hepatitis Day: 28 July, 2026
Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer if…
World Rabies Day: 28 September 2026
Rabies remains a significant public health concern in many countries despite the availability of effective vaccines…
World Patient Safety Day: 17 September 2026
World Patient Safety Day is observed annually on 17 September to raise awareness of patient safety and promote…
Editorial Team
Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario |
Director, UNIPH; Director, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, MoH, Editor in Chief, UPHB
Lilian Bulage |
Coordinator, Scientific Writing, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, MoH and Scientific Editor, UPHB
Dr. Issa Makumbi |
Deputy Director, UNIPH
Paul Edward Okello |
Country Coordinator, Data Impact Program, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, MoH
Dr. Benon Kwesiga |
Program Coordinator – Advanced Field Epi, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, MoH
Dr. Richard Migisha |
Field Coordinator – Advanced Field Epi, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, MoH
Samuel Gidudu |
Program Coordinator – Laboratory Leadership, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, MoH
Ivan Lukabwe |
Program Coordinator – Health Informatics, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, MoH
Martha Dorcas Nalweyiso |
UPHFP – Advanced Epi Fellow, UNIPH, MoH
Pauline Achom |
UPHFP – Advanced Epi Fellow, UNIPH, MoH
Sharon Namasambi |
UPHFP – Advanced Epi Fellow, UNIPH, MoH
Patrick Pithua |
UPHFP – LLP Fellow, UNIPH, MoH
Should you have any questions or require additional information related to articles in this bulletin please contact us on: nmartha@uniph.go.ug, achompauline@uniph.go.ug, nabsharon@uniph.go.ug, aypatsy@uniph.go.ug, lbulage@uniph.go.ug
Thank you