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

UPHB Articles Volume 11 Issue 2 April-June 2026

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…
Read More...

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.…
Read More...

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…
Read More...

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,…
Read More...

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…
Read More...

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…
Read More...

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…
Read More...

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…
Read More...

UNIPH Recent Highlights

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…
Read More...
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…
Read More...
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…
Read More...
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…
Read More...
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…
Read More...
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…
Read More...

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

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy