A new report from the Lira Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (LPHEOC) highlights persistent gaps in disease surveillance across Uganda’s Lango sub-region, raising concerns about the region’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks in time.
The findings are drawn from the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin 2026, Epi-Week 16 (13–19 April 2026), produced by LPHEOC, which monitors trends in infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and public health response activities across ten districts.
While reporting completeness remains high—at over 99% of expected submissions—timeliness continues to lag, with only 60% of reports submitted on time during the week. Districts including Alebtong, Apac, Kwania, and Oyam performed below target. Health officials warn that delays in reporting can slow the detection of unusual disease patterns and delay response efforts.
The implications are already evident. Measles cases were reported during the week, particularly in outbreak districts such as Alebtong and Otuke, with additional cases emerging in Kole, a district not previously classified as affected. A regional measles–rubella vaccination campaign is ongoing in response.
Malaria remains the most significant contributor to the disease burden. Although the regional test positivity rate stood at 34.2%—within the national threshold—districts including Lira, Otuke, and Oyam have reported persistently high positivity rates over the past three weeks. One malaria-related death was recorded during the reporting period, prompting calls for closer monitoring of district-level trends.
Other infectious diseases continue to circulate. The region recorded 21 cases of dysentery, 12 suspected rabies exposures linked to animal bites, 26 cases of typhoid fever, and three cases of hepatitis B. Authorities have called for joint investigations between health and veterinary teams in affected districts to assess the risk of rabies transmission.
Tuberculosis services show mixed performance. A total of 52 TB cases were identified during the week, with all patients initiated on treatment. However, screening coverage in outpatient departments reached only 82.2%, below the 100% target, and contact tracing remains limited across most districts. Health officials have called for strengthened supervision and use of outreach platforms to improve detection and follow-up.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes also point to ongoing system challenges. Although no maternal deaths were reported during the week, there were seven macerated stillbirths, three fresh stillbirths, and ten early neonatal deaths, with the majority occurring in Lira City and Oyam. Health teams are being urged to intensify routine reviews to improve quality of care.
Despite these pressures, some indicators remain strong. Malaria treatment rates are high, with more than 97% of confirmed cases receiving appropriate therapy, and TB diagnostic tools such as GeneXpert are widely used.
However, the bulletin also highlights weaknesses in event-based surveillance. Only one alert was reported across the entire region during the week, suggesting possible underreporting of emerging public health threats. Strengthening community-level reporting and uptake of digital surveillance tools remains a priority.
As Uganda continues to invest in epidemic preparedness, the LPHEOC findings underscore a critical lesson: strong surveillance systems require not only complete data, but timely reporting. Without it, outbreaks risk being detected too late to prevent wider spread.
