Uganda has expanded community-based tuberculosis screening with the commissioning of 14 ultra-portable digital X-ray units equipped with artificial intelligence software, a move health officials say could improve early detection in hard-to-reach areas.
The equipment, deployed through the Ministry of Health’s National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program, will be used alongside mobile clinics in TB hotspot districts including Kampala Metropolitan Area, Karamoja, West Nile and parts of Greater Masaka.
Tuberculosis remains one of Uganda’s leading infectious killers, with an estimated 250 people falling ill and about 30 dying each day, according to the Ministry of Health. While the disease is preventable and curable, delayed diagnosis continues to drive transmission, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The new X-ray units were commissioned on Dec. 15 with support from the United States government. The systems use computer-aided detection software developed by Qure.ai, which analyzes chest X-rays to support clinicians in identifying TB and other lung abnormalities.
Dr. Diana Atwine, the Ministry of Health’s permanent secretary, said expanding diagnostic access is central to Uganda’s TB control strategy. “Early and accurate diagnosis is the entry point to treatment and prevention,” Atwine said. “When we bring services closer to communities, especially those that are underserved, we reduce delays and save lives.”
In addition to the X-ray units, solar power backup systems were provided to support existing TB-LAMP testing machines, enabling testing in facilities and communities with limited or unreliable electricity supply.
U.S. Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp said the initiative reflects ongoing cooperation between Uganda and the United States to strengthen health systems. “Today, we are proud to commission portable digital X-ray systems equipped with advanced computer-aided detection software to expand access to rapid tuberculosis screening in health facilities and communities,” Popp said.
Earlier U.S.-supported digital X-ray systems have helped screen more than 150,000 people and identify over 4,600 TB cases for treatment, according to health officials.
With the addition of the new units, Uganda now has 95 mobile digital X-ray and computer-aided diagnosis platforms, extending coverage to more than half of the country’s districts, the Ministry of Health said.
Health experts caution that while AI-assisted imaging can improve screening efficiency, technology alone cannot end TB.
“Diagnostics must be linked to treatment, follow-up and strong community engagement,” said a senior official from the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. “Without that, cases will still be missed.”
Uganda has expanded active case finding and community-based screening in recent years, but challenges remain, including drug-resistant TB, pediatric TB and gaps in access to care in remote regions.
The Ministry of Health said the new equipment will be integrated into existing public health services and operated by trained Ugandan health workers as part of the national TB response.
