Reporting rates from health facilities across Kampala dropped sharply in epidemiological week 17, with all five city divisions falling below the national target for disease surveillance reporting, according to the latest bulletin from the Kampala Capital City Public Health Emergency Operations Center.
The bulletin, released by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) with support from Naguru Regional Referral Hospital, showed that completeness of reporting fell by 56% while timeliness declined by 36% during the week of April 20–26, 2026.
Nakawa Division registered the steepest decline, with reporting completeness dropping to 4.4%, followed by Makindye at 16.9%, Lubaga at 28.1%, Kawempe at 52.7%, and Central Division at 67.3%.
“All the divisions scored below the 80% national target,” the bulletin noted, adding that Nakawa recorded the “highest drop” in reporting performance.
Health officials also reported a rise in epidemic-prone illnesses across the city. Influenza-like illness (ILI) was the leading cause of morbidity with 292 cases recorded, followed by typhoid fever with 259 cases and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) with 83 cases.
Makindye and Nakawa divisions accounted for most SARI cases, reporting 47 and 36 cases respectively. Lubaga Division recorded the highest number of typhoid fever cases at 96, followed by Kawempe with 72 and Central Division with 69.
The city also registered two suspected dysentery cases, four measles cases, and five suspected rabies cases from animal bites, all of which remain under investigation.
Tuberculosis screening increased significantly during the week, with health workers screening 82,127 clients — equivalent to 236% of the total outpatient attendance of 34,792. The bulletin attributed the rise to expanded screening beyond outpatient departments into other hospital units.
However, only 55 of the 879 presumed TB cases were confirmed and started on treatment, representing a diagnosis rate of 6%.
KCCA warned that TB contact tracing remains weak across the city. “Contact tracing is still a big challenge where only Lubaga division was able to trace the contacts and screen them,” the report stated.
On malaria, the city recorded 9,378 fever-related outpatient cases, representing 26% of all outpatient attendance. Rapid diagnostic tests showed a 17% positivity rate, while microscopy recorded a 15% positivity rate.
The report also highlighted gaps in elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) services, noting that 20% of expected mothers missed clinic appointments during the week. Central Division registered the highest missed appointment rate at 75%.
Despite the disease burden, the city reported no maternal or perinatal deaths during the reporting week.
