The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda has launched its 2026 Annual Sickle Cell Run to raise funds to procure more than 60,000 doses of Hydroxyurea for patients in the Busoga sub-region, which has one of the country’s highest burdens of sickle cell disease.
The run, scheduled for Sept. 20, will also serve as a nationwide awareness campaign, with organizers emphasizing the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment.
Speaking at the launch, Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda Vice President Dr. Nuru Mugide said sickle cell disease continues to claim lives and place a heavy emotional, social and financial burden on families while adding pressure to Uganda’s health system.
About 300,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease globally each year, while Uganda records an estimated 20,000 new cases annually, according to figures cited by the society. About 14% of Ugandans are estimated to carry the sickle cell trait.
The society says between 50% and 80% of children born with sickle cell disease in Africa die before age 5 if they do not receive appropriate care. In Uganda, an estimated 6,000 to 9,000 children die from the disease each year.
People living with sickle cell disease often experience recurrent pain, frequent hospital admissions, stigma and high treatment costs, while many struggle to access specialist care and essential medicines.
Busoga has one of the highest sickle cell prevalence rates in Uganda and a large number of patients who cannot afford treatment, according to PSU.
Mugide said the run is intended to address both treatment and prevention.
“We are not running just to buy the drug. Our main focus is to create awareness, because prevention is better than cure,” she said. “Yes, we also want to support government efforts to improve access to Hydroxyurea.”
She said the National Medical Stores currently supplies Hydroxyurea to 72 health facilities, and the society wants to complement government efforts by raising funds to expand access.
All proceeds from this year’s run will go toward purchasing at least 60,000 doses of Hydroxyurea for patients in Busoga.
Hydroxyurea helps increase fetal hemoglobin, reducing the sickling of red blood cells and, in turn, the frequency of pain crises and hospital admissions.
For Dr. Hope Fortunate Achiro, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, prevention should begin with wider screening so people know their sickle cell status before entering relationships and marriage.
She said people who both carry the sickle cell trait should receive counseling about the possibility of having children with sickle cell disease.
Achiro speaks from personal experience. She lost two daughters to sickle cell disease in 2024 after years of repeated hospital admissions, severe pain crises, blood transfusions and intensive care.
The experience, she said, showed her that sickle cell disease is not only a medical condition but one that can devastate families emotionally, socially and financially.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda commended the government for integrating sickle cell screening into maternal and child health services and providing free Hydroxyurea in public health facilities. However, it called for faster expansion of newborn screening and greater access to subsidized medicines.
This year’s run will be held under the theme, “Let Us Run to Save the Lives of Children with Sickle Cell Disease,” and is expected to attract hundreds of participants from across Uganda.
