KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s health surveillance system is struggling to meet national reporting targets at a time when the country continues to grapple with multiple infectious disease threats, according to the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiological Bulletin for Week 25.
The report shows that only 68.5% of health facilities submitted surveillance reports on time during epidemiological week 25 (June 15–21), well below the national target of 80%. Only five of Uganda’s 15 health regions—Karamoja, Ankole, Kigezi, Acholi and Teso—met the reporting target.
The reporting gaps come as the country continues to monitor a wide range of infectious diseases requiring rapid detection and response.
Malaria remained the leading public health burden, with 153,274 confirmed cases and 11 deaths reported during the week. The national malaria test positivity rate remained high at 31.4%, indicating sustained transmission.
The surveillance system also recorded nearly 2,000 suspected typhoid cases, while dysentery remained close to the national alert threshold, signalling continued circulation of enteric diseases.
Several outbreak-prone diseases remained under active surveillance. Three suspected human anthrax samples were investigated during the week, with one confirmed positive case. Viral haemorrhagic fever surveillance identified two positive samples, while the cumulative number of confirmed yellow fever cases reached 46 this year. Active outbreaks of measles were also reported in Katakwi and Serere districts, while schistosomiasis continued to spread in Jinja City, where 31 new cases were recorded during the week.
The bulletin also lists ongoing responses to Ebola virus disease, mpox, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Rift Valley fever, highlighting the breadth of public health emergencies being managed simultaneously.
To improve surveillance performance, the Ministry of Health called on district biostatisticians to work closely with health workers to identify and address bottlenecks responsible for delayed reporting. Timely surveillance data are critical for detecting outbreaks early, guiding investigations and ensuring rapid public health response.
