AIDS care providers in Uganda are urging the government to waive inspection fees on imported condoms to help address the ongoing shortage in the country. The National Drug Authority (NDA) oversees the verification and quality assurance of all imported condoms before they are distributed to Ugandans. While the government scrapped importation fees on medical supplies,…

Kawempe National Referral Hospital has reported a sharp decline in the number of mothers delivering at the facility, raising questions about shifting maternal care trends. Dr. Lawrence Kazibwe, the hospital’s Clinical Head, revealed that while the facility once recorded an average of 30,000 deliveries per year, the number plummeted last year to just 23,000—nearly a…

A new coronavirus has been identified in bats in China. Although the virus has the potential to infect humans, no real-world cases have been identified. 25 February 2025 by Linda Geddes A new coronavirus has been identified in bats that uses the same receptors to enter human cells as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. The…

HIV-blocking prophylactic antivirals in vaginal-ring and injectable form are not only longer-acting than daily pills, they’re also more discreet. 24 February 2025 by Pascalinah Kabi When 30-year-old Ithabeleng Mosele (not her real name) discovered that her husband was having an extramarital affair about a year ago, the fear of being infected with HIV shattered her. “That…

Residents of Bundibugyo are outraged after two infants died at Bundibugyo General Hospital when a power failure cut off their oxygen supply. The hospital, which has been operating without a functional X-ray machine for seven years, is now facing intense scrutiny over its deteriorating services. The tragic deaths were revealed by Josephine Bebona, the District…

Deputy Chief Justice Designate Dr. Flavian Zeija has launched the Justice 4Her Project, a groundbreaking initiative designed to dismantle barriers that prevent survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) from accessing justice. With a survivor-centered approach, the project seeks to ensure that justice is not a privilege for the few but a right for all, particularly for…

A growing crisis is unfolding in Bukomansimbi District, where senior citizens are pleading for the government to expand specialized healthcare services before more lives are lost. With no geriatric care available, elderly residents are left vulnerable, suffering in silence as treatable conditions spiral into life-threatening illnesses. 76-year-old Emmanuel Kabayiza, a resident of Lwemiriti village in…

Authorities in Moroto district are sounding the alarm over a surge in teenage pregnancies, driven by crippling poverty and hunger that have left young girls vulnerable to sexual exploitation. In the sub-counties of Tapac, Katikekile, Nadunget, and even within Moroto municipality, the number of child mothers is rising at an alarming rate. Girls as young…

Kasese District is grappling with a measles-rubella outbreak as resource shortages hinder vaccination efforts and community awareness campaigns. At the end of last month, the district confirmed three positive rubella cases, but health officials report no current hospital admissions. The district’s response is heavily constrained due to the suspension of USAID-supported health programs, which previously…

Pajule Health Center IV in Pader District is struggling to provide adequate maternal health services due to a severe shortage of delivery beds, forcing expectant mothers to give birth on the floor. Serving over 200,000 people, the facility handles an average of seven deliveries daily under extreme resource constraints. Dr. Denis Ocaya, the in-charge of…

Health workers in Kikuube District are raising alarms over the rising HIV/AIDS prevalence among fishing communities along the shores of Lake Albert, particularly at Kyehoro Landing Site in Kabwoya Sub-county. According to Kyehoro Health Center III, the HIV prevalence rate at the landing site stands at 7%, significantly higher than the national average of 5.1%.…

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has defended the destruction of expired medical supplies worth UGX 316.7 billion, following revelations from the Auditor General’s 2023/24 report. The destroyed supplies included COVID-19 vaccines, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), testing kits, and other essential medicines. According to Auditor General Edward Akol, this marked a…

Reproductive Health Uganda has welcomed the enactment of the Sexual Offences Bill 2024, emphasizing that it expands accountability for sexual harassment beyond employers to include employees. Unlike existing laws, which primarily hold employers responsible, the new legislation criminalizes sexual harassment at all levels, ensuring that both employers and employees can be held liable. Speaking before…

Mbale Regional Referral Hospital has received a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory worth over $50 million from the Russian government to enhance testing capabilities for Ebola and other infectious diseases. Daniel Mwayafu, the Acting Director of the hospital, confirmed the development on Thursday, noting that the Ministry of Health deployed the facility in response to the recent…

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has downplayed the pay demands from health workers involved in the treatment of individuals infected during the 2022 Sudan Ebola virus disease outbreak. The outbreak, which originated in Mubende District, spread to neighboring districts, causing widespread concern. The health workers, under their umbrella organization, the Uganda Medical Association, have expressed…