In rural Uganda children with Down syndrome and their caregivers fight stigma and silence

The children come first—some shy, some playful, others clinging to their mothers’ dresses—each carrying a diagnosis that, in many Ugandan communities, is still misunderstood. Around them are their caregivers, mostly mothers, who have learned to navigate a world of whispered judgment, long hospital journeys, and, too often, abandonment. In Bukiike village in Nyenga Division, Buikwe…

Official Launch Announcement For NO2FGM Awards 2026: No to Female Genital Mutilation Inbox

Do you know a hero working to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? We are proud to announce the launch of the 2026 NO2FGM Awards. These awards are designed to honour the courageous individuals, grassroots activists, politicians professionals and organisations that are making a measurable difference in protecting girls, women and supporting survivors. We are looking…

European Medicines Agency backs single dose drug that could end sleeping sickness

In a milestone for global health research, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive scientific opinion for acoziborole, a single-dose oral treatment for gambiense human African trypanosomiasis—better known as sleeping sickness. The disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and transmitted by the tsetse fly, has long plagued rural communities across sub-Saharan…

Govt has Not yet Seen any Value-for-Money from Enhanced Doctors’ Pay

Jane Kyarisima Mwesiga, the Deputy Head of Public Service incharge of Performance and Service Delivery has expressed concern over the untamed dual employment among health workers employed by the government. While the government has since enhanced salaries for health workers following a series of strikes and complaints, Mwesiga says they have so far found no…

Retired Sex Workers Recruit More Teenage Girls into Prostitution on Islands

Kalangala district is struggling with the growing aggressiveness by commercial sex agents who are recruiting more teenage girls into prostitution. The agents operate on the different landing sites in Kalangala, where they act as main links between commercial sex workers and their prospective clients, who include local fishermen and revelers in bars and other entertainment…

Shame: Mulago’s ICU State-of-the-Art Machines Gather Dust Amidst Chronic Staff Shortage

At least 15 high-tech beds inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mulago National Referral Hospital are lying idle due to a chronic staffing shortage. Despite boasting a 27-bed capacity equipped with world-class technology valued at approximately UGX 200 billion, the hospital is forced to operate at less than half capacity. Currently, only 12 patients…

The Emotional Toll of ICU Nursing At Mulago Hospital

In the high-pressure environment of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago Specialized Hospital, the line between professional duty and personal trauma is razor-thin. For Martha Alupo, the unit’s in-charge, nine years in the ICU have demanded constant resilience. Chronic staffing shortages only deepen the strain—one that rarely ends at the hospital doors. “It’s a…

Women, Youth, and Gender Equity at the Centre of the Fight Against AMR and Drug-Resistant TB

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose a serious global health threat, but experts at a recent AMR Dialogues session warned that solutions must go beyond science and medicine to include gender equity, youth participation, and community-centered approaches. The discussion highlighted how women, gender-diverse communities, and young people experience disproportionate risks of infection, drug resistance, and…