As the deadly grip of malaria continues to claim thousands of lives each year, a powerful shift is underway in Uganda—one that is giving families across the country new hope.
The introduction of the malaria vaccine, now being considered as a key requirement for nursery school admissions, could be a turning point in the country’s decades-long fight against its leading cause of illness and death. Mothers like Harriet Namwanje in Lwamata, Kiboga district, are already feeling a sense of relief.
“I’ve liked the vaccine because it will keep our children safe from this killer disease,” she said.
“It will also save us time and money, which we’ve been using for treatment. That money can now go into farming, education, and other developments.”
Despite using mosquito nets and keeping doors closed at night, residents like Zam Nakintu remain vulnerable due to the swampy areas they live in, prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes that bite even during the day.
“With this vaccine, our babies will be protected from severe malaria attacks that delay their growth and sometimes cause death,” she said.
For residents like Prossy Nambito of Kitagenda village, the vaccine is more than a health intervention—it’s a lifeline.
“I’ve lost many relatives to malaria. Knowing my children can now be protected gives me hope for a healthier future,” she said.
Her sentiments are echoed by Kamadah Kasule, a father who calls the vaccine “a blessing.” Bringing immunization services closer to communities has also made a noticeable difference. Sarah Nakagwa, a local mother, said she can now manage both farming and vaccination visits without strain.
“We dig in the morning and walk short distances to vaccination centres in the afternoon. I can’t miss any immunization dose now that the services are near.”
A SILENT KILLER
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria remains the leading cause of severe illness and death among young children in Uganda. In 2022 alone, it accounted for 40 per cent of outpatient visits, 25 per cent of hospital admissions, and 14 per cent of hospital deaths.
The following year, Uganda was among the top five African nations with the highest malaria burden. In response, Uganda has rolled out the R21/ Matrix-M malaria vaccine, administered in four doses at 6, 7, 8, and 18 months of age.
It’s a move WHO describes as essential, especially in high-burden districts. In a bold step to encourage uptake, the government is exploring making malaria vaccination a prerequisite for nursery school enrollment.
Asuman Kasujja, acting district health officer for Kiboga, confirmed the plan to implement an electronic medical records system that would verify a child’s vaccination status.
“A full immunization card, including malaria vaccine, will soon be required for nursery school admission,” he said. Kasujja emphasized the vaccine’s potential to drastically reduce the burden of malaria, which accounts for about half of outpatient cases in Kiboga.
“We expect to reduce uncomplicated malaria cases by 40 per cent and complicated cases by 30 per cent, which would significantly lower mortality,” he said.
He added that the average cost of treating severe malaria is around Shs 15,000 per case—a figure that drains household incomes, especially for rural families. Since the vaccine’s launch in April 2025, Kiboga district has immunized 2,219 babies, covering 58 per cent of the target population aged 6 to 11 months.
Despite this progress, challenges persist. Some communities resist the vaccine due to religious beliefs or misinformation.
“There are still misconceptions,” Kasujja admitted. “But with continued sensitization and increased government funding, we hope to reach all eligible children.” The district’s Assistant Health Officer, Sarah Nansikombi, said no serious complaints have been received so far.
“We do monitor side effects like fever and pain using our Adverse Effects Following Immunization tools and surveillance teams,” she added.
BROADER NATIONAL EFFORT
Uganda’s malaria vaccine rollout—backed by WHO, GAVI, UNICEF and AMREF—marks the largest of its kind in Africa, targeting 105 districts with over 2.3 million doses. According to UNICEF, the vaccine curtails the malaria parasite’s ability to reach the liver, where it multiplies before attacking red blood cells.
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, minister of Health, described the vaccine as a “game-changer,” expected to prevent at least 800 severe cases daily and save children’s lives.
“Sixteen people die from malaria every day in Uganda— ten of them are children under five,” she said.
“This vaccine will dramatically reduce that number.” UNICEF representative to Uganda, Dr Robin Nandy, emphasized the vaccine’s role in reducing child mortality.
“It will help us bring down the annual death toll of 20,000 children under five,” he noted. AMREF’s Edward Chilolo said their teams are working to increase awareness and integrate the vaccine into routine immunization schedules.
“We are mobilizing communities, addressing hesitancy, and ensuring the vaccine reaches the most vulnerable populations,” he said. Their initiatives include collaboration with private healthcare providers and local leaders to extend access.
Another journalist bankrolled by the Globalists to spread the false gospel and fear to promote ineffective vaccines by Gavi aimed at population control…
Go read why we should never trust anything from Gavi bankrolled by Bill gates of hell, reports from the Kenyan Catholic doctors association concerning these vaccines and their adverse side effects to our children
Hmmm, there’s a term called “shilling” where a deal is up-sold to unsuspecting groups of people and as soon as they originators gain clout, they pull rug and disappear. I smell something fishy with these false testimonies by this journalist; STOP!
Am aware of one country in the developed world where they practically mandate children to all these vaccines before they make 4 years of age and that country has one of the highest cases of ADHD and certain other disorders related to brain function. Remember the same WHO UNICEFs of this world had us in knockdowns that claimed 2 solid years from our children’s education and many dropped out of school as a result. I guarantee you we will feel the effects a few years from now and remember that period with a bit of shame.
So, can Uganda really afford vaccine mandates? What mandate was there when your grandparents lived more than 100 years disease-free without mosquito nets and all these vaccines? Am not saying it’s all gloom, but what interests are being served by these swiftly sponsored mandates? So GAVI is so concerned for Ugandans that they plough in their billions of dollars just for just?
Also, remember, education is not really considered a do or die thing here. If mandates come to that, I wouldn’t be surprised with a drop in school attendances or else the doors open up for further corruption.
Perhaps we need a better approach to these things instead of being fixated like bloodhounds.
Hey Zurah Nakabugo and all you influencers and decision makers, this is my personal FINAL appeal to you to save both yourselves and our dear country.
Can you get all the data with thall those other tests and the biochemistry and for example see that the No. 1 ADJUVANT used for vaccines on the globe is ALUMINUM?
After satisfying yourselves with this, then check to confirm that the kidneys do not get rid of aluminum from the body … and it eventually ends up in the brain tissue, carried by the immune celss. Now, that’s where the havoc starts and you can see that for chuldren they end up with huge elephants like AUTISM and for adults it’s usually depression and suicide; the more vaccines, the higher the aluminum toxicity. Certain other adults that survived the outright autism when young catch up with depression & suicide later on in life, not counting the effects of those in-between years. Now, you see why this is already complicating matters and the general population is put at risk… when we are already dealing with a time bomb with seed oils that’s about to explode.
In fact, even something as “innocent” as aluminum based colognes can also start to play with mental sharpness in adults … so how about those vulnerable babies? The western world can handle these things, perhaps, but Uganda just cannot afford these mandates.
Hope this helps both for yourselves and our dear country. Let people know all information in advance and make their own informed decisions rather than forcing them to adopt to such draconian rules.