Health authorities in eastern Uganda are reporting strong gains in disease surveillance, but persistent malaria burden and weak tuberculosis (TB) screening continue to strain the region’s health system.
The findings come from the Soroti Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, Epi-Week 16 (13–19 April 2026), which tracks disease trends across 11 districts in the Teso sub-region.
Unlike other regions, Soroti reported near-optimal surveillance performance. Completeness of reporting reached 99%, while timeliness improved to 98%, with all districts meeting the national target of 80%. Health officials have praised district teams for maintaining consistent reporting, a key pillar in early outbreak detection.
Yet beneath this strong surveillance performance lies a heavy disease burden. Malaria remains the dominant public health challenge, with more than 14,000 cases reported weekly. During the reporting period, over 35,000 patients presented with fever, of whom nearly 40% tested positive for malaria. Katakwi District recorded the highest burden, with incidence rates exceeding 800 cases per 100,000 population.
Other epidemic-prone diseases also persist. The region reported 38 cases of animal bites, 23 cases of typhoid fever, 18 cases of dysentery, and seven suspected measles cases. Health officials warn that animal bites, in particular, are an emerging concern, averaging more than 35 cases weekly, with implications for rabies risk. Measles cases, though fewer, continue to require close monitoring and targeted response.
Tuberculosis indicators reveal more concerning gaps. Only 26% of outpatient attendees were screened for TB—far below the 95% national target—highlighting missed opportunities for early detection. Katakwi District reported the lowest screening rate at just over 5%. Although 812 presumptive TB cases were identified, only five were confirmed, suggesting possible diagnostic or reporting challenges. Encouragingly, 94% of diagnosed TB patients were initiated on treatment.
Maternal and neonatal health outcomes also reflect ongoing system pressures. While no maternal deaths were recorded during the week, the region reported five fresh stillbirths, four macerated stillbirths, and five early neonatal deaths. Health authorities are calling for strengthened maternal and child health services to address preventable deaths.
Despite the region’s strong surveillance performance, the bulletin underscores that data alone is not enough. High reporting rates must translate into improved service delivery, particularly in malaria control, TB screening, and management of epidemic-prone diseases.
As Uganda continues to strengthen its public health emergency systems, the Soroti experience highlights a critical gap: even where surveillance systems function well, health outcomes depend on the ability to act on the data.
