The Ministry of Health has intensified efforts to safeguard children’s lives following a rise in measles cases, unveiling a comprehensive nationwide immunization campaign set for October 2026.
In a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre, Dr. Charles Olaro, the Director General Health Services reassured the public that while measles remains a highly contagious disease, it is entirely preventable through vaccination.
He revealed that the country has already made notable progress, with immunization coverage rising from 79% in 2016 to 90% in 2024, alongside successful national campaigns that reached over 94% of children in recent years.
“Building on these gains, the Ministry, working with partners such as GAVI, WHO and UNICEF, will roll out a National Measles-Rubella Immunization Campaign from 1st to 5th October 2026, targeting all children aged 9 to 59 months. The exercise will be conducted free of charge across the country through health facilities, schools, outreach programs and community-based sites to ensure maximum reach, including in hard-to-access areas”. He said.
He emphasized that the campaign will vaccinate all eligible children regardless of their previous vaccination status, a move aimed at boosting immunity and closing existing gaps—especially for the critical second dose given at 18 months.
Despite recent outbreaks reported in several districts, he highlighted that ongoing response measures are already in motion.
“These include strengthened surveillance, rapid outbreak investigations, district-level vaccination drives, and enhanced community engagement to improve awareness and uptake of immunization services”. He said.
Encouragingly, the campaign will also be integrated into the Integrated Child Health Days, offering a broader package of essential child health services and reinforcing routine immunization systems nationwide.
He asked Parents and caregivers to take full advantage of the upcoming campaign, as vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles.
He stressed that two doses of the measles-rubella vaccine provide strong immunity, helping not only to protect individual children but also to prevent the spread of the disease within communities.
With coordinated national efforts and strong community participation, Uganda is poised to curb the outbreak and move closer to eliminating measles as a public health threat, ensuring a healthier future for its youngest citizens.
