The Mukono District Health Officer, Dr. Stephen Mulindwa, has revealed that the district’s Mpox task force is grappling with three patients who are refusing treatment at the Entebbe National Isolation Centre.
Since last year, Mukono has recorded a cumulative total of 33 Mpox cases, with 30 patients agreeing to treatment and three recently identified cases resisting compliance.
“We are in direct contact with the patients, negotiating with them, and working with various stakeholders, including security agencies. I am optimistic that they will agree to treatment soon—possibly even today,” Dr. Mulindwa stated.
He emphasized that the district lacks a treatment facility, making referral to Entebbe mandatory. “Management protocols dictate that confirmed cases must be treated at Entebbe. If a patient tests positive and refuses to go, we cannot provide treatment locally,” he explained.
Residents in Mukono have raised concerns about the public health risks posed by noncompliant patients. Wilberforce Katende, a local resident, questioned the delay in evacuation efforts: “Why fail to remove the patients knowing that their presence in public increases contacts?”
District records attribute the spread of the disease primarily to sex workers, with their key contacts including commuter taxi drivers, Boda Boda motorcyclists, and vendors.
To combat the epidemic, the Mukono District Task Force, chaired by Resident District Commissioner Fatumah Ndisaba, has implemented several strategies. These include community sensitization through audio towers and radio talk shows, mobilization of Village Health Teams (VHTs) for grassroots engagement, and promoting preventive measures.
The task force is urging the public to avoid casual sexual encounters, congested places, and to prioritize hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and regular cleaning of clothing.
“Don’t engage in sexual activity with people you don’t know, as this increases the risk of contracting the disease,” Dr. Mulindwa advised, adding that even acts like kissing have been discouraged.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease that causes painful rashes, fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, and low energy. The Ministry of Health recently reported a spike in cases during the festive season, bringing Uganda’s cumulative confirmed cases to 1,571.
Uganda Ranks Third in Africa for Mpox Cases as Festive Season Sparks Regional Increases
At the national level, the Ministry of Health has reported a sustained high number of mpox cases, placing Uganda third on the continent after Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the latest surveillance update, regions including Busoga, South Central, and South Western recorded an increase in infections during the festive season, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases to 1,571. Nineteen new cases were confirmed in only 24 hours.
Dr. Col. Henry Kyobe, the National Incident Manager overseeing emergencies such as COVID-19, Ebola, and mpox, noted a mixed trend in case distribution. While over 40 districts have gone without a new case in the past 15 days, Kampala continues to report a steady and rising number of infections.
Dr. Kyobe highlighted that the primary drivers of mpox transmission remain sex workers and their close contacts, including commuter taxi drivers, Boda Boda motorcyclists, and vendors. Within Kampala Metropolitan, neighborhoods such as Kawaala, Bwaise, and Nabweru have the highest number of infections, particularly among sex workers operating in low-income areas.
Despite concerns that increased movement during the festive season could exacerbate transmission, experts suggest the disease’s spread remains largely confined to specific demographic groups. This targeted transmission pattern may explain reductions in cases across 11 districts, despite a national rise.
While most individuals recover fully, some, particularly those with underlying health conditions, develop severe complications. In Uganda, 13 people have succumbed to mpox, with most of the fatalities among individuals living with HIV.
The latest recorded death occurred on January 1, 2025. As health officials continue to monitor and address the outbreak, targeted interventions are being emphasized in high-transmission areas to curb further spread.