According to the Ministry of Health’s Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin for the Fort Portal region, covering March 13–19, 2026, the sub-region faced significant public health pressures, led by a sustained malaria burden and multiple ongoing outbreaks.
Malaria remains the leading cause of illness, with five of ten districts—Bundibugyo, Kamwenge, Kitagwenda, Kyegegwa, and Kyenjojo—reporting that more than half of outpatient visits were for suspected malaria. In Bundibugyo and Kyegegwa, test positivity rates exceeded the national target of 40%. Although no malaria-related deaths were recorded, health officials raised concern over continued non-adherence to the national “test and treat” policy, with several districts treating patients for malaria despite negative test results.
The region is also contending with other infectious threats. Mpox cases have reached 36 cumulatively, with two deaths reported, while a human anthrax outbreak remains active in Kitagwenda district. Kyegegwa continues to report measles cases. More broadly, typhoid fever, diarrhoeal disease among children under five, and pneumonia remain leading causes of morbidity.
Maternal and neonatal health indicators show ongoing challenges. One maternal death was reported at Kagando HCIV in Kasese district, alongside two perinatal deaths in Kasese and Bunyangabu. Health authorities have called for sustained maternal and perinatal death audits to improve quality of care.
Tuberculosis services performed relatively well, with 94% of outpatient attendees screened and 90.9% of newly diagnosed patients initiated on treatment. However, system-level challenges persist. Reporting rates have declined over recent weeks, partly due to a DHIS2 system glitch, with only four districts meeting the national target for reporting timeliness and completeness.
Similar trends are seen in the Bunyoro region, where malaria testing rates reached nearly 100%, but adherence to treatment guidelines remains inconsistent. During the week of April 13–19, 2026, 227 patients were treated for malaria despite negative test results, and 42 patients received treatment without any diagnostic test. In some districts, the number of patients treated exceeded confirmed positive cases, highlighting gaps in clinical practice.
Health officials warn that while diagnostic capacity has improved, adherence to results remains a critical weakness. Strengthening compliance with treatment guidelines, alongside improved surveillance and reporting systems, will be essential to managing the region’s ongoing malaria burden and broader disease threats.
