By Walimbwa Moses
Uganda has begun a five-day measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting children aged nine to 59 months following repeated outbreaks of the disease in different parts of the country.
The campaign runs from October 1 to 5 and targets all eligible children, including those who have previously received a measles-rubella vaccine. About 7.5 million children are expected to be reached.
Uganda recorded 66 measles outbreaks in 2025, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The outbreaks exposed gaps in routine immunisation, with many affected children having no record of measles vaccination.
The situation has been particularly serious in Karamoja. A WHO review of measles deaths in Moroto and Napak found that 92 per cent of the children who died had never received a measles vaccine.
Some of the children suffered complications including pneumonia, diarrhoea, dehydration and malnutrition.
In Ntungamo District, measles cases were confirmed in four sub-counties in July and August. The district is targeting more than 90,000 children during the vaccination campaign.
Nesterio Twesigye, Senior Health Educator at Ntungamo District, said vaccination coverage remained inadequate.
“The population that has been vaccinated against measles is not sufficient enough,” Twesigye said.
In Ntungamo, vaccination teams will work in schools on October 1 and 2, followed by community vaccination on October 3 and 4. October 5 will be used to reach children who may have been missed.
In Kabale District, health workers and Village Health Teams are expected to vaccinate children in schools, communities and places of worship. The district has set a target of 47,794 children.
WHO says routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage remains below the approximately 95 per cent level required to prevent sustained transmission. In 2025, only 43 per cent of districts reached the target for the first measles-rubella dose, while 21 of 146 districts reached the target for the second dose.
The Ministry of Health has urged parents and caregivers to take all children aged nine to 59 months for vaccination during the campaign, even if a child has previously received a dose.
Caregivers have also been advised to seek medical attention when children develop symptoms such as fever, rash, cough, runny nose or red eyes.
The five-day campaign is expected to complement routine immunisation and help health workers identify children who have missed previous vaccination opportunities.