Category: Community Health

2nd September 2026, Kampala – The Annual Joint Performance Review Meeting for Kampala Region, FY 2025/26, took place under the theme: “A Strong, Responsive and Sustainable Health System that Contributes to the 10-Fold Growth Strategy.”

Chaired by China Uganda Friendship Hospital, Naguru, the meeting brought together Kampala City Council Authority, National Referral Hospitals, Implementing Partners and other key stakeholders to review health sector performance, strengthen joint implementation and make better use of data to inform decision-making.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Irene Nayiga, Hospital Director, China Uganda Friendship Hospital, Naguru, described health as an investment that contributes to the wellbeing and productivity of the population.

“Health is not simply a social service; it is an economic investment because a healthy population is the foundation of a better quality of life,” she said.

“We want to strengthen primary health care and improve its utilisation. We must look at how we can strengthen our health system from the household and community level to health centres and hospitals across the region. Each one of us has a role to play in building a stronger, more responsive health system,” Dr. Nayiga said.

Human resources and availability of medicines remain among the challenges facing the region, with some facilities operating at only 23% staffing levels. Maintaining facility drug availability above 70% remains important to reduce stockouts and ensure that patients can access the medicine they need.

The importance of accurate data in addressing such gaps was highlighted by Dr. Ronnie Bahatungire, Ag. Commissioner Clinical Services at the Ministry. He noted that the Ministry of Health is developing a system to bring all healthcare providers, including private health facilities, on board with accurate and appropriate data collection.

“This will enable us to plan based on the actual number of people we are serving,” he said.

Dr. Bahatungire observed that gaps between the population planned for and the population actually using health services can affect the availability of medicines and other commodities.

“It is not appropriate for us to be planning for three million people when we actually are providing services for about five million people. When you underestimate the population, you also underestimate the medicines and other commodities needed, and that is how stockouts become the norm,” he said.

“Being told that medicines are out of stock may seem like a simple statement, but it means something very different when it is you or your relative who needs those medicines,” Dr. Bahatungire said.

The discussions were aligned with the Ministry of Health Service Delivery Standards 2025–2030, particularly Strategic Objectives 2 and 3, which provide a framework for strengthening the health system and improving access to quality, integrated and client-centred care.

Strategic Objective 2 focuses on strengthening health system capacity for effective service delivery and response, including client feedback mechanisms, the 5S approach which stands for Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize and Sustain that caters for patient safety practices, emergency medical services and referral systems.

Strategic Objective 3 focuses on enhancing access to and utilisation of high-quality integrated services for communicable and non-communicable diseases, with emphasis on ensuring client-centred care at all levels of the health system.

Against this background, Dr. Deo Lubowa, Assistant Commissioner Quality Care under the Standards Compliance, Accreditation and Patient Protection (SCAPP) Department at the Ministry, emphasised the importance of keeping patients at the centre of health service delivery.

“Our clients are people, and they are our patients. We must ensure that everyone who comes to our facilities receives the best possible care and experience,” he said.

“We need to embrace continuous quality improvement, using data to identify gaps, inform our decisions and improve the quality of care we provide,” Dr. Lubowa said.

As a way forward, stakeholders agreed on the need to identify the key drivers of success and examine the root causes of major performance gaps. Rather than having long lists of recommendations, the focus will be on a manageable number of clear, measurable and practical priorities.

Each action will be assigned to a specific responsibility centre with a defined timeline, while regular monitoring and timely reporting will strengthen ownership and accountability for results. Where performance falls below the agreed targets, prompt corrective action will be taken to get implementation back on track.

By Priscilla Basemera

1st September 2026, Kampala —The Ministry of Health, in partnership with Water For People and with funding from the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), convened a high-level co-creation workshop to strengthen strategic communication and advocacy materials developed from the Cost of Inaction Study on WASH Financing in Uganda.

The participatory workshop brought together cross-sector stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Education and Sports, Water for People, Riva (formerly IRC), Ministry of defence and veteran affairs and the Buganda Kingdom and the Buganda Kingdom. Through interactive working groups and plenary reviews, participants refined draft policy briefs, op-eds, and multimedia toolkits ahead of the official report launch scheduled for next week.

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Environmental Health at Ministry of Health, Ms. Rachel Mirembe Faith highlighted the urgent need for sustained investment in WASH. “The Ministry of Health and its partners are therefore calling for strengthened action and financing in the WASH sector to prevent avoidable deaths and diseases, protect children and communities, and improve productivity across the country,” said Rachel Mirembe.

The evidence shows that inadequate WASH services have a significant impact on both health and the national economy. An estimated 12,420 deaths could have been avoided through improved WASH services, while the country recorded an estimated 605,548 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to inadequate WASH.

The Cost of Inaction Study provides important evidence on the economic and social implications of inadequate investment in WASH. The workshop sought to translate this complex evidence into clear, compelling and audience-responsive messages that can be effectively used by policymakers, sector champions and other stakeholders to advocate for stronger WASH financing.

The discussions focused on strengthening the evidence, recommendations and messaging in the materials while ensuring that they speak directly to the priorities and interests of decision-makers and the wider public.

A key message emerging from the workshop was the need to position WASH beyond its traditional framing as a social service. Participants emphasized that investment in WASH is also an investment in Uganda’s human capital, economic productivity and sustainable development.The advocacy initiative seeks to equip sector champions with accessible evidence to demonstrate the costs of underinvestment in WASH and make a stronger case for increased domestic financing.

By connecting WASH investment to health outcomes, education, productivity and economic growth, the materials aim to support high-level policy engagement and strengthen the case for prioritizing WASH within national development and financing discussions. The initiative further seeks to demonstrate how WASH can contribute to Uganda’s ambition for Tenfold Economic Growth, including the aspiration to grow the country’s economy from approximately US$50 billion to US$500 billion.

“A major challenge in public policy is translating dense technical evidence into actionable language. This workshop has successfully simplified complex data into clear, compelling messages that connect directly with decision-makers and the public,” said Ronald Reagan Namanya, Principal Policy Analyst.

The co-creation approach also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to build ownership of the advocacy materials and ensure that the final products reflect the perspectives, priorities and realities of the different sectors involved in WASH.The refined communication and advocacy products will support the wider dissemination and use of findings from the Cost of Inaction Study.

The official launch of the study and its findings is scheduled for next week.Through this collaboration, the Ministry of Health and its partners reaffirm their commitment to strengthening evidence-informed advocacy and promoting greater investment in WASH as a critical foundation for healthier communities, stronger human capital and Uganda’s economic transformation.

By Rudigo Joseph

29th August 2026, Kyaliwajjala, Wakiso District — The Ministry of Health has used the second National Cleaning Day to strengthen public awareness on proper waste management, with emphasis on waste sorting and the health dangers associated with indiscriminate disposal and burning of waste.

The national cleaning activities were held at Kyaliwajjala UMEA Primary School in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, bringing together government officials, local leaders, community members, health workers and other stakeholders to participate in the cleaning exercise and engage residents on the importance of proper waste management.

The month’s cleaning activities in Kyaliwajjala were spearheaded by the Vice President of Uganda, Her Excellency Rt. Maj. Jessica Alupo Eperu, and the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, together with Ministers from various implementing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, emphasized the importance of cleanliness, noting that it is a key factor in promoting public health and preventing disease. Dr. Baryomunsi urged Ugandans to make sanitation and hygiene part of their everyday lives. “Keeping our communities clean is not only about having a beautiful environment; it is an important public health measure. Every household and every community member has a role to play.” Dr. Baryomunsi noted.

During the exercise, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, educated residents on the health risks associated with poor waste management, particularly the practice of burning waste such as plastics, urging residents to desist from burning plastics and other waste, noting that the practice releases harmful pollutants into the air, which can negatively affect human health and the environment.

“Burning plastics is equally harmful because it releases toxic smoke and chemicals into the air, which can cause respiratory problems and pollute our environment.” Dr. Atwine emphasized.

Dr. Atwine also reiterated the health dangers associated with cooking food in kaveera, warning residents against using plastic bags as cooking containers. “Cooking food in kaveera is dangerous to your health because harmful chemicals can leach into food when plastic is exposed to heat. We urge the public to use safe, approved cooking materials and never use plastic bags as cooking containers.” Dr. Atwine added.

She encouraged communities to adopt safer waste management practices, including sorting waste at the source, proper storage and disposal, recycling where possible, and using appropriate waste collection systems, informing residents that the National Cleaning Day Statutory Instrument is in its final stages of approval.

“Once the statutory instrument is passed into law, individuals who deliberately fail to participate in National Cleaning Day activities will be liable to a three-month prison sentence or community service, in accordance with the law.” Dr. Diana informed residents.

As the cleaning exercise continued, residents of Kyaliwajjala were encouraged to separate waste at the point of generation and distinguish materials that can be reused or recycled from other forms of waste, including biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Proper waste sorting facilitates appropriate disposal, promotes recycling and reuse, and reduces the amount of waste that ends up in the environment.

Residents were also urged to avoid dumping garbage in drainage channels, roadsides and other public spaces. Such practices can contribute to blocked drainage systems, environmental pollution and the creation of breeding grounds for disease vectors such as mosquitoes and flies.

The activities in Kyaliwajjala reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening community participation in sanitation, hygiene and disease prevention as Uganda continues to promote healthier communities through improved environmental health practices.

By Jolly Twongyeirwe

26th August 2026, Kampala – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Medic, yesterday convened a User Feedback and Synthesis Workshop on the AI-Enabled Febrile Surveillance Workflow for Village Health Teams (VHTs).

The workshop brought together stakeholders to reflect on four months of implementation of a study exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support febrile illness surveillance at community level through the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS). The study is being implemented in Mpigi, Moyo, Buikwe and Lira districts.

The engagement provided an opportunity to understand frontline users’ experiences with the AI-enabled eCHIS during routine community health service delivery, identify what is working well and challenges affecting its use, and capture recommendations to improve the technology, workflows, training and user support.

During Phase I, the AI-enabled eCHIS, powered by Audere’s HealthPulse AI Interpreter, provided a parallel AI interpretation that was not visible to VHTs. The implementation data showed a high level of agreement between VHT and AI interpretations, while user feedback indicated growing confidence and interest in AI-assisted interpretation.

However, stakeholders also highlighted challenges that affected implementation in some sites, including lower-than-expected testing volumes, commodity availability, device performance, connectivity and supervision.

As the study moves into Phase II, running for the next three months, VHTs will be able to view the AI interpretation alongside their own assessment. This phase will provide an opportunity to further assess how AI-assisted interpretation can support frontline health workers and strengthen community-level surveillance.

The Ministry of Health appreciated the continued collaboration of the implementing districts, VHTs, end users and partners while remaining committed to leveraging digital innovation and emerging technologies to strengthen disease surveillance and improve health service delivery at community level.

By Samuel Lukanga

24th August 2026, Kassanda – The Ministry of Health has commissioned 187 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in Kassanda District, marking another milestone in efforts to strengthen community-level health service delivery across Uganda.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, presided over the commissioning and urged the newly trained CHEWs to serve their communities with dedication, integrity and compassion. She emphasized that CHEWs are an important link between communities and the formal health system and should ensure that people receive timely, quality and respectful health services.

Dr. Atwine strongly cautioned the CHEWs against demanding money or engaging in any form of extortion from community members seeking health services. She encouraged them to uphold professional ethics and put the interests and wellbeing of the communities they serve at the centre of their work.

Prior to the commissioning ceremony, the Permanent Secretary visited Kassanda Health Centre IV, where she assessed the delivery of health services and engaged with health workers on measures to further strengthen the quality and accessibility of care in the district.

The commissioning was attended by the Commissioner for Health Promotion, Education and Strategic Communication, the Commissioner for Reproductive Health, Area Members of Parliament, Resident District Commissioners, district officials and other stakeholders.

The deployment of CHEWs is part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to strengthen primary health care by bringing preventive, promotive and basic health services closer to households and communities. Their work is expected to contribute to increased health awareness, early identification and referral of health concerns, and improved uptake of essential health services.

The Ministry of Health remains committed to strengthening the community health system and ensuring that every Ugandan can access quality, equitable and people-centred health services closer to where they live.

By Samuel Lukanga

21st August 2026, Kampala — Ahead of the second National Cleaning Day, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has joined the Kampala Capital City Authority’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Sarah Zalwango, and the Rotary Club of Kulambiro to mobilize residents of Kulambiro village to adopt waste sorting at source as part of the efforts to promote cleaner communities and protect public health. This is part of KCCA’s Weyonje programme, which promotes responsible waste management across the city.

Speaking to residents of Kulambiro, Dr. Diana Atwine urged households and businesses to make waste sorting and proper disposal a daily practice, stressing that a clean environment is essential to preventing disease and safeguarding community health. Dr. Atwine highlighted the economic benefits of proper waste management, noting that recyclable materials, particularly plastics, can be separated, collected, and sold to generate income for households and communities.

“A clean environment is essential to preventing disease and safeguarding community health. Waste sorting and proper disposal should become a daily practice for every household and business. At the same time, proper waste management can also provide economic opportunities, as recyclable materials, particularly plastics, can be separated, collected and sold to generate income for households and communities,” Dr. Diana Atwine said.

The Director Public Health at KCCA, Dr. Sarah Zalwanga, emphasized that this is part of KCCA’s Weyonje programme, which promotes responsible waste management across the city. “Weyonje promotes responsible waste management across Kampala, encouraging residents to take greater responsibility for keeping the city clean and healthy,” Dr. Sarah Zalwanga emphasized.

The exercise began at Kisasi-Kulambiro Market, continued to Mutuba Police Station, and concluded at East High Market Place. At each stop, Dr. Atwine demonstrated how residents can sort waste at source by separating recyclable materials from other forms of waste before disposal.

The engagement forms part of the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health and KCCA to strengthen community participation in proper waste management ahead of the second National Cleaning Day. The Ministry of Health, together with KCCA, encouraged residents to make waste sorting and responsible disposal part of their everyday routines.

By Jolly Twongyeirwe

20th August 2026, Kampala – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Uganda Stop TB Partnership (USTP) and other partners, has convened a breakfast meeting to orient the newly constituted Parliamentary TB Caucus on Uganda’s tuberculosis (TB) burden and strengthen parliamentary leadership towards ending TB in the country.

The orientation brought together Members of Parliament, officials from the Ministry of Health, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme (NTLP), USTP and partners. The engagement is aimed at strengthening the capacity of legislators to effectively champion TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, financing, policy and accountability.

The meeting focused on Uganda’s progress towards achieving national TB targets, the remaining gaps and priorities requiring accelerated action. Members of Parliament were also oriented on the Ministry of Health’s policy direction on integrating health programmes within the broader health system to ensure sustainable and effective delivery of health services.

A key focus of the engagement was the complementary role of Parliament and health-sector stakeholders in strengthening Uganda’s TB response. Parliament plays an important role through budget appropriation, legislation, policy advocacy, oversight and accountability. The orientation therefore sought to equip MPs with the information and tools necessary to effectively scrutinise TB programmes and investments while advocating for increased attention to TB at national and constituency levels.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Parliamentary TB Caucus, NTLP, USTP and partners to reflect on their respective responsibilities and identify areas for stronger collaboration. Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that resources allocated to TB interventions translate into improved access to prevention, testing, treatment and support services for affected communities.

TB remains an important public health priority requiring sustained political commitment and collective action. Strengthening parliamentary engagement is expected to contribute to greater visibility of TB within national development and health discussions, increased domestic financing, stronger policies and more effective oversight of programmes.

The meeting concluded with a call for members of the Parliamentary TB Caucus to develop concrete commitments that will guide their advocacy and oversight work in support of Uganda’s End TB agenda.

Through strengthened collaboration between Parliament, the Ministry of Health, implementing partners and communities, Uganda seeks to accelerate progress towards reducing TB-related illness and deaths and ultimately ending tuberculosis as a public health threat.

By Samuel Lukanga

11th August 2026, Kampala – The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has today officiated the receipt and distribution of 306 smartphones, power banks and accessories procured with support from the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) under the Capacity Building Project for Community Health Workers.

The digital devices will be distributed to Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Masaka District to strengthen community-level health service delivery and facilitate real-time data entry and reporting.

The provision of smartphones is aimed at enhancing the capacity of VHTs to capture and submit community health information promptly, enabling health managers to access timely and reliable data for planning, decision-making and monitoring of health interventions.

Speaking during the handover, Dr. Atwine commended KOFIH for its continued support towards strengthening Uganda’s community health system and emphasized the importance of leveraging digital technology to improve health service delivery.

She noted that equipping VHTs with appropriate digital tools will contribute to improved data quality, timely reporting and better coordination of community health activities.

The smartphones are expected to enable VHTs to move away from largely manual reporting processes and support more efficient transmission of health information from communities to the health system.

The intervention forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health and its partners to strengthen the community health workforce through capacity building, digitalisation and provision of essential tools to support VHTs in delivering health services closer to communities.

The Ministry of Health remains committed to strengthening partnerships that support the use of technology and innovation to improve health information management and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for communities across Uganda.

7^th August, 2026, Kampala – Kampala Capital City has become the 70^th local government in Uganda to roll out the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) Programme, further expanding the Government’s efforts to bring essential health services closer to communities and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

The rollout in Kampala is particularly significant as the city presents unique health challenges associated with a rapidly growing urban population, including overcrowding, environmental health concerns, and unequal access to health services.

Speaking at the launch, Director General Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro, said the introduction of CHEWs in Kampala would help bridge the gap between communities and the formal health system. “Urban communities face a number of challenges, including overcrowding and unequal access to clinical care. The launch of the City Community Health Worker Programme is a step forward in bridging the gap between care and access,” he added.

Prof. Olaro emphasized that much of the disease burden can be prevented through appropriate action at household and community level. “About 75 percent of ill health is preventable. The CHEWs will be instrumental in inculcating good hygiene and environmental health practices among the population. Having a healthy population is a strategy for getting people out of poverty,” he added.

Commissioner for Health Promotion, Education and Strategic Communication, Dr. Richard Kabanda, described the Kampala rollout as an important opportunity for the Ministry to better understand how community health interventions can be effectively implemented in a predominantly urban environment.

“The CHEWs Programme is a good entry point for us in Kampala, but there is a lot for us to learn. Kampala is extremely unique, and we need to understand the dynamics of running a community health worker programme in a purely urban setting,” Dr. Kabanda said.

He noted that while studies had previously been undertaken to understand the feasibility of implementing community health interventions in urban settings, some of the recommendations were not easily implementable.

“Now that we are here, the implementation of the programme gives us an opportunity to understand these unique dynamics and generate lessons that can inform community health programming in other urban areas,” he said.

Dr. Kabanda also emphasized the importance of strengthening existing community structures and ensuring better coordination of community-based health interventions.

He noted that the Ministry has encouraged implementing partners to work through existing community health structures rather than establishing parallel cadres. Under the VHT Revitalisation Strategy, two VHTs are designated per village, while the urban context may require adaptations because of the geographical and population dynamics of cities such as Kampala and Wakiso.

He further highlighted the importance of functionalising social service committees to strengthen community participation, accountability and coordination of health and other social services.

The Kampala rollout is supported by the United States Government through the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI).

Delivering remarks on behalf of the U.S. Government, Dr. Immaculate Ddumba of the Department of State underscored the importance of strengthening health services at the household and community level. “Health is made at home and only repaired at the facility,” Dr. Ddumba said, emphasizing the importance of investing in preventive and promotive health interventions at the grassroots.

She noted that CHEWs will provide an opportunity to strengthen a formally trained community health cadre supported by Government, while complementing the existing VHT system. “We are not letting go of the VHTs. We are training and equipping a formally trained cadre by the Government of Uganda. VHTs can also qualify as CHEWs where they meet the required criteria,” she said.

Dr. Ddumba commended the Infectious Diseases Institute for its leadership, coordination and support to the rollout and noted that implementation in Kampala would provide valuable lessons for strengthening Primary Health Care in urban populations.

She further encouraged learning and knowledge-sharing across urban areas, including from ongoing experiences in Jinja City and Wakiso, to better understand how community health programmes can be effectively delivered in rapidly growing urban settings.

Director of Public Health at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Dr. Sarah Zalwango, expressed excitement about Kampala beginning the training and implementation of CHEWs, describing the rollout as a significant milestone in strengthening Primary Health Care services in the capital city.

“We are excited that Kampala is beginning the training and implementation of Community Health Extension Workers. This is a milestone for strengthening Primary Health Care and bringing health services closer to the people of Kampala,” Dr. Zalwango said.

Presenting an overview of the programme, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Ronald Ocaatre explained that CHEWs are expected to provide a range of preventive, promotive and basic community health services while linking households and communities to health facilities.

He noted that CHEWs will receive a monthly stipend upon satisfactory submission of their reports, an arrangement intended to strengthen accountability, performance monitoring and sustained service delivery.

The CHEWs are selected through a community-led process at parish or ward level, helping to ensure that the workers are known to and trusted by the communities they serve. Their deployment is intended to strengthen the link between households, communities and health facilities by promoting healthy behaviours, supporting disease prevention and early detection, facilitating referrals and contributing to improved access to essential health services.

With the Kampala rollout, 70 local governments have now implemented the CHEWs Programme, with a total of 8,904 CHEWs deployed across the country. The expansion of the CHEWs Programme represents an important investment in Uganda’s Primary Health Care system, particularly in ensuring that health promotion, disease prevention and basic community health services reach people where they live, work and learn.

By Abirahmi Kananathan

6th August 2026, Kampala – The Ministry of Health has renewed its commitment to strengthening Uganda’s response to sickle cell disease by calling for greater collaboration, increased investment and coordinated action among all stakeholders involved in prevention, treatment and care.

The call was made during a high-level stakeholder engagement that brought together Members of Parliament, government officials, health workers, development partners, civil society organisations, caregivers, advocates and people living with sickle cell disease. The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the progress made so far, identify existing gaps and agree on practical solutions to improve the quality of life.

Welcoming participants, the Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume, emphasized that the fight against sickle cell disease cannot be achieved by one institution alone but requires a united effort involving government, communities, families, health professionals and development partners.

Dr. Ayume highlighted the importance of strengthening systems that support early identification, timely treatment and continuous care for people living with sickle cell disease. He called for sustained commitment toward expanding access to screening services, improving the availability of essential medicines and ensuring that health facilities are equipped to provide quality care to patients across the country.

“Addressing sickle cell disease requires a collective responsibility. Every stakeholder has a role to play in ensuring that affected individuals receive the support and medical attention they need,” participants were reminded during the engagement.

The meeting also featured the reading of a Call to Action by the Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Youth and Children Affairs), Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa, who urged all stakeholders to move beyond discussions and commit to coordinated action that will improve the lives of people living with sickle cell disease. She emphasized the need to ensure that no child or family is left behind in accessing care and support.

Providing a technical overview of the disease, Dr. Miriam Ajambo, the National Coordinator for Sickle Cell Disease, highlighted Uganda’s burden of sickle cell disease, progress made under the national strategy and the priority interventions needed to reduce its impact. She noted that strengthening newborn screening, improving access to treatment and increasing public awareness remain critical to the country’s response.

One of the most emotional moments of the meeting came when caregivers and people living with sickle cell disease shared their personal experiences. Their testimonies painted a vivid picture of the daily realities of living with the condition, while underscoring the importance of accessible healthcare services, psychosocial support and continued public awareness.

Participants later engaged in discussions on practical measures to strengthen Uganda’s response to sickle cell disease, with a shared commitment to improving prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.

The meeting concluded with renewed calls for collective action to ensure that every person living with sickle cell disease has access to timely care, support and the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.

By Kahunde Edith Maureen