Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has urged national and local leaders to approach the fight against malaria with the same urgency and unity that led to Uganda’s successful eradication of polio.
His call to action follows the launch of a new malaria vaccine in April 2025, which targets 1.1 million children under the age of two across 105 high- and moderate-transmission districts.
Speaking at the 3rd Walk Against Malaria, held at Parliament on Sunday, May 4, Tayebwa emphasized the critical role of community mobilization in the vaccine rollout.
“Uganda is the 19th country to introduce the malaria vaccine, and we’ve had one of the most effective rollouts,” he said. “Although the vaccine is intended for children aged one to two years, everyone must be involved. I urge parents and leaders to go into your communities and encourage mothers and fathers to bring their children for vaccination.”
Tayebwa compared the malaria vaccine to previous successful immunization campaigns and called for a nationwide effort to eliminate the disease.
“Vaccination helped us conquer the six killer diseases. Today, polio is nearly nonexistent in Uganda. If we act decisively, we can achieve the same success with malaria,” he said.
He also highlighted ongoing research to expand the vaccine’s eligibility to children over two years—a development he described as essential to creating a malaria-free generation.
Tayebwa expressed concern over Ministry of Health data indicating a high malaria burden among school-going children, especially those in boarding schools. He advocated for a government policy to implement Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in school dormitories and classrooms.
“Given the structure of most boarding school beds—often double- or triple-deckers—it’s challenging to use mosquito nets effectively,” he noted. “Indoor spraying, at just Shs5,000 per student, is a cost-effective investment that could save countless lives.”
Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro, Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), shared her personal experience with malaria.
“My early childhood was traumatic—my parents were constantly in and out of hospitals because of malaria,” she said. “It’s been years since I suffered from it, and I believe we can achieve the same for every child.”
China’s Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Fan Xuecheng, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to malaria control efforts.
“Last year, China provided 500,000 packs of anti-malaria drugs. We are proud to be part of Uganda’s journey to eliminate malaria,” he said.
Dr. Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative in Uganda, stressed that the tools to end malaria are already available—it now depends on implementation and political will.
“We have the tools, the knowledge, and the opportunity to achieve a malaria-free world,” he said. “The time has come to invest in proven interventions and rethink our strategies to accelerate progress.”
Now in its third year, the Walk Against Malaria is a flagship advocacy initiative led by the Parliamentary Forum on Malaria under Hon. Timothy Batuwa (FDC, Jinja South Division West). The campaign seeks to mobilize domestic resources, raise public awareness, and promote preventive measures such as vaccination and indoor residual spraying.
The initiative brings together a wide range of partners, including UNICEF, WHO, Malaria Consortium, Malaria Free Uganda, Next Media, diplomatic missions, and civil society organizations—demonstrating a united front against one of Uganda’s most enduring public health threats.
Tayebwa’s message is unequivocal: with collective leadership, strong political will, and community engagement, Uganda can defeat malaria. The vaccine presents a historic opportunity, and leaders are being urged to rise to the challenge—as they did in the fight against polio.
“Let us not miss this chance. Every child vaccinated is a life protected,” Tayebwa concluded.