The Natural Chemotherapeutic Research Institute (NCRI) has called for the full operationalisation of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act, saying it would strengthen Uganda’s herbal medicine sub-sector and eliminate harmful practices by unregulated practitioners. Speaking to the media at the Uganda Media Centre ahead of the Traditional Herbal Medicine Exhibition scheduled for December 16–17 at…
Medical interns under the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI) have threatened to withdraw emergency services by the end of the week if the government does not reinstate their allowances. The interns have been on strike since December 10 in protest at the withdrawal of their allowances by the government. They say the Ministry of…
Buganda and Rotary International have announced a landmark plan to introduce Uganda’s first floating hospital, a Shs 1.6 billion facility designed to ease access to healthcare for communities living on the hard-to-reach Ssese Islands. The project, unveiled at Bulange by Ahmed Lwasa, the deputy speaker of Buganda Lukiiko, marks a significant breakthrough for island residents…
Uganda has signed a multibillion-dollar memorandum of understanding with the United States aimed at strengthening Uganda’s health care system over the next five years. The agreement, valued at $2.3 billion, will see the US contribute $1.7 billion , while Uganda will provide $ 500 million. The partnership is intended to bolster Uganda’s capacity to contribute…
Health workers in more than 17 government referral hospitals in Uganda are set to receive training in coordination, strategy and capacity building through virtual technology as part of efforts to close the skills gap in the health sector. Speaking at the launch of the Supra Hub programme at the ministry of Health headquarters, William W….
At least 11 children have died from measles in Napak, Karamoja sub-region, since the outbreak was declared two weeks ago, the ministry of Health said. In a situation update, the ministry reported a cumulative total of 74 cases and 11 deaths across all 12 sub-counties in the pastoralist communities. The ministry confirmed the outbreak on…
The ministry of Health has announced plans to equip all national referral hospitals with lung units as part of efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in Uganda. Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the ministry, said the units will strengthen the country’s capacity to handle the rising…
A senior paediatric specialist has urged health workers across Uganda to detect and treat pneumonia cases early, warning that delays increase the risk of spreading respiratory infections, especially among children. Dr Victor Musiime, an associate professor and head of the department of Paediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, made the…
The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has warned that prostate cancer cases are rising sharply across the country, with Mbarara registering the highest burden. New figures shared by the institute show that the western region, where Mbarara is located, accounts for 18% of all reported prostate cancer cases, the highest proportion nationally. This is followed by…
She fit right into the beauty stereotype: full lips, white teeth, smooth light chocolate skin. Her father died from HIV when she was too young to remember. Her mother remarried and was too busy rebuilding her life. The only way to occupy the perpetual emptiness she felt was to get a boyfriend at 15. “No…
Clean streets, low crime rate, Boda Bodas that follow traffic rules. Rwanda has, for a long time, set an example of endless possibilities in Africa and East Africa, showing that the things that we take for granted as inherent problems that the continent has to live with are, in fact, solvable. The latest serving from…
The Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) has reported a rise in HIV cases among newborn babies, estimating that about 47,000 infants are affected, despite a general decline in the country’s overall HIV prevalence to 4.9%. The commission has linked the surge to increasing cases of mother-to-child transmission during delivery. Dr Nelson Musoba, the executive director of…
Buganda has pledged to strengthen efforts to improve child health and welfare across its counties through a new partnership with UNICEF. Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga announced the collaboration during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UNICEF at Bulange, Mengo today. “We have agreed to work with our friends from UNICEF to improve…
A total of 147 districts across Uganda will receive a package of job aids to help hospitals and health centres improve immunisation and combat the spread of deadly diseases among children and adults. Dr Alfred Driwale, the commissioner for Institutional and Health Workforce Development at the ministry of Health, announced the development during the handover…
Makerere University has officially handed over the construction site for a new Lung Institute complex as part of activities marking the institute’s 10th anniversary later this month. The six-storey facility, to be built at Mulago, is expected to significantly boost respiratory health research, care, and training in Uganda and beyond. The Shs 3.6 billion first…
President Museveni has launched the construction of Hiinga Karis Medical Hospital and Karis Nursing University in Magere, Wakiso. The multi-million shilling health complex is expected to boost access to specialised medical services in the area. The facility will include 125 hospital beds, surgical theatres, emergency and diagnostic services such as MRIs and X-rays, four maternity…
Dr. Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, has saidt the number of pregnant women attending official health centres has risen to 1.6 million annually, representing 86% of expectant mothers. However, he said, 200,000 pregnant women (14%) still rely on traditional birth attendants, posing risks to both maternal and…
Stanbic Bank Uganda has donated maternal health equipment worth Shs 44 million to Rukoki Hospital, in Kasese, to address the facility’s maternity ward challenges. The donation, handed over during a ceremony, included four oxygen concentrators, 10 modern maternity beds with accessories, two blood pressure monitors, and 200 Mama Kits. Dr Edward Wafula, the hospital’s in-charge, said…
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has proposed that implementing a universal medical insurance scheme could significantly enhance Uganda’s health sector. He said there was a need for improved resource management and better equipment in health facilities across the country. Tayebwa made these remarks while officiating at the 30th-anniversary celebrations of Case Hospital. He urged private health…
The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has recorded a sharp fall in both AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections. Speaking during a sitting of the Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tom Etti, the Director for Partnership at UAC said there was a 64% reduction in annual AIDS deaths from 56,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024 and…
Uganda in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, has intensified efforts to prevent the cross-border spread of Ebola virus disease. Enhanced surveillance, screening, and updated contingency plans are being implemented as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues its response to an Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, now in its…
Pharmaceutical distributors and importers in Uganda have threatened to cease operations if the National Drug Authority (NDA) does not revise the newly imposed 17% tax on imported drugs. Effective this month, the tax has increased from the previous 12% to 17%, a move described by industry stakeholders as exorbitant and unfair. They argue that it…
As the world grapples with the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI), allied health professionals in Uganda are seeking innovative solutions to enhance their practice. The Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC), a government-established body tasked with regulating, supervising, and overseeing the practice of allied health professionals, has launched initiatives to strengthen healthcare systems. At a media…
President Museveni, alongside Prince Ali Mohammed (Aga Khan) today officially launched the Aga Khan University Hospital at Nakawa. The event marked the formal commencement of a significant partnership between Uganda and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to strengthen the country’s health and education sectors. The ceremony was attended by various government heads of departments,…
Uganda spends approximately Shs 300 billion annually on patients seeking specialized medical care abroad, according to Dianah Ssewanyana, manager of Business Development and Operations at Aga Khan University Hospital in Uganda. This revelation was made during a media tour of the hospital’s new facility in Nakawa, Kampala. Ssewanyana said many Ugandans travel to countries such…
The Rotary Club of Kampala-Wandegeya has conducted a health and sanitation initiative in the Kimwanyi Zone, Katanga, Kawempe Division. During the exercise more than 500 residents were treated for various ailments. Led by Peter Zaake, the chairperson of Rotary Health Days in Uganda, the initiative began with a needs assessment that identified poor sanitation, primarily…
Dr. Mariam Mohammed Hussein, Somalia’s minister of state for Health and Human Services, has called on the Somali community in Uganda to take proactive measures against the spread of communicable diseases. Speaking to Bbeg Media on the sidelines of the IGAD conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Dr. Hussein, accompanied by a six-member delegation from Mogadishu,…
Dr. Rony Bahatungire, the Acting Commissioner in charge of Clinical Services, has urged paediatricians to intensify their efforts in treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs), malaria, and reducing malnutrition among children. Representing Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister of Health, Bahatungire addressed paediatricians at the 21st Annual Uganda Paediatric Association Conference held at the Mestil Hotel in…
Dr. Sabrina Bakeera-Kitaka, a senior lecturer at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, has called on the government to allocate more funding to pediatric and child health programmes. Speaking to Bbeg Media, Dr. Kitaka emphasized the need for increased investment to address pressing health challenges. “Our children continue to face significant threats from bacterial…
The ministry of Health has reported an anthrax outbreak at a refugee settlement in Kyegegwa district, which has left one refugee dead and three others hospitalized. According to a health situation update from the ministry, samples collected from a 26-year-old male Congolese refugee at Kyaka II Refugee Settlement tested positive for the bacterial disease. Three…
Health experts, policymakers, and researchers on Monday began a three-day meeting in Kampala to accelerate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B across Africa. The event, held under the theme “Unifying Actions, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030,” is dubbed as Africa’s first-ever high-level conference focused on the…
Uganda will use 200,000 doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to immunize newborns. Rose Akuno, Hepatitis program coordinator at the Ministry of Health said the vaccination campaign, scheduled for August, aims to prevent and control new Hepatitis B infections among newborns in the East African country. According to ministry…
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the leading cause of infertility in women, Aidah Nassolo, the lead consultant at Wandegeya Imaging Centre in Uganda has told Bbeg Media. She said STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may cause tubal factor infertility (TFI) by scarring or blocking the fallopian…
The Coalition to Stop Maternal Mortality Due to Unsafe Abortion, an umbrella body for NGOs working in the reproductive health sector, has called on the government to urgently reform the Penal Code Act to decriminalize abortion, aligning with public health and human rights obligations. At a media conference in Kampala, activists pressed Parliament to review…
Smoked meats, like those used in popular Ugandan dishes such as smoked fish or goat, are loved for their rich, smoky flavour. However, the smoking process can pose health risks, according to experts. “When we smoke meats, the smoke can create harmful substances called carcinogens,” said Beth Czerwony, a registered dietitian from Cleveland Clinic in…
As the sun rose over the Rift Valley escarpment in Uganda’s western district of Kikuube, 45-year-old Jennifer Nyangoma made her way to a much-anticipated free medical camp. For weeks, villagers in this region bordering the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo had heard of a healthcare outreach organized by a Chinese medical team from Kampala,…
Makerere University Hospital yesterday made history by officially launching the Olink Proteomics Platform, the first of its kind in East and Central Africa. The landmark event, presided over by Dr. Monica Musenero, Uganda’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, took place at the School of Public Health auditorium. The platform positions Uganda as a pioneer…
The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide HIV survey to assess progress in the fight against the virus and shape future interventions. Health minister Ruth Aceng officially unveiled the third round of the Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2025 in Kampala. The survey seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of current national HIV programs,…
Last week, Buganda announced plans to introduce a medical insurance scheme to improve access to quality medical care among its subjects. The news, broken by Bbeg Media, sparked excitement within and outside the kingdom and triggered several questions on how the scheme will work. Buganda to start medical insurance scheme for subjects at 150,000 per…
Buganda to start medical insurance scheme for subjects The Kabaka Foundation, one of the key institutions in Buganda kingdom has announced plans to introduce a medical scheme that will enable people in Buganda access affordable healthcare. The executive director of the foundation, Kaggwa Eddy Ndagala, said this during a planning session to organise the upcoming…
Professor Eric Mabonga, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Kampala International University (KIU), has emphasized the institution’s unwavering commitment to transforming health education through research, technology, and strategic partnerships. He made the remarks at the fifth Uganda Pharmaceutical Symposium held at KIU’s Teaching Hospital and Research Centre (KIU-THR) in Ishaka, Bushenyi. “KIU-THR remains committed to enhancing research…
The director general Health Services, Dr Charles Olaro has called upon researchers to focus on reducing maternal deaths caused by high blood pressure. Dr Olaro was speaking at the launch of centre for Health and Social Justice by the Ahaki Institute. He pledged government support and collaboration and appealed to Ahaki Institute and partners to…
Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Health has advised health workers affected by the 90-day suspension of USAID funds, to be “patriotic” and work as volunteers as the government works out modalities of integrating them into the health care system. In a scathing letter dated January 30, 2025 and addressed to staff…
Microhaem Scientific (MHS), a Ugandan medical supplies company funded by the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), has dispatched its first consignment of locally manufactured diagnostic kits to the Government of Uganda through the National Medical Stores. MHS produces diagnostic kits that enhance the efficiency, convenience, and accuracy of malaria, HIV, and sickle cell disease diagnoses. Patricia…
The government has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) in Kampala following positive test results from three National Reference Laboratories. The Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine, told journalists today that measures were being undertaken to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. She said a 32-year-old male…
The European Commission, via its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), has delivered 10,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine to Uganda to support the country’s response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak. This delivery is part of over 215,000 doses donated by HERA to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to…
