Uganda has renewed its efforts to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 amid continued cases of animal bites and deaths linked to the disease.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Bright Rwamirama, said on Wednesday that rabies remains a major public and animal health threat, requiring joint action by veterinary, health and environmental authorities.
Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Minister Rwamirama said dogs remain the main source of human exposure to rabies in Uganda, with children among the most vulnerable.
“Stronger Together,” the theme for this year’s World Rabies Day, calls for collaboration between the animal health, human health and environmental sectors to prevent infections and deaths.
World Rabies Day is commemorated annually on September 28, but Uganda’s national activities are being held from September 21 to 26, with the main event scheduled for Kasana-Kosovo in Luwero District on Saturday.
According to Ministry of Health records cited by the ministry, 67,393 suspected human bite cases were reported between 2022 and 2025, resulting in 190 deaths. During the same period, 356 suspected animal deaths were recorded.
The ministry also said 36 animal samples tested positive for rabies at the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC) between 2021 and 2025.
Officials, however, caution that the recorded figures may not represent the full burden because reporting of animal cases remains incomplete.
Minister Rwamirama said the government is strengthening surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, public awareness and vaccination as part of efforts to interrupt transmission.
“Rabies is preventable. This makes every avoidable death from rabies a strong reminder of the need for sustained vaccination, surveillance, public awareness and timely treatment following exposure,” he said.
Vaccination drive
The government is prioritising vaccination of dogs and cats, particularly in high-risk areas, as one of the key measures to break transmission from animals to people.
The ministry is also providing anti-rabies vaccines through the health system for people exposed to suspected rabid animals, while NADDEC and regional and district laboratories support diagnosis.
The National Rabies Elimination Strategy 2025-2030 provides the framework for mass animal vaccination, surveillance, public awareness, protection of occupationally exposed workers and mobilisation of resources.
During World Rabies Week, Luwero will host free mass vaccination of dogs and cats, community awareness campaigns, school outreach and spaying and castration of pets.
Veterinary students from Makerere University are also expected to participate in community activities.
The global campaign seeks to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, with sustained vaccination of dogs considered central to achieving the target.
What to do after a bite
The ministry has urged members of the public not to ignore dog bites or scratches from animals suspected of having rabies.
Minister Rwamirama said victims should immediately wash and flush the wound with plenty of clean running water and soap for at least 10 to 15 minutes before seeking medical attention.
Victims should also report the incident to veterinary authorities so that the animal involved can be assessed.
“Do not delay seeking medical care while waiting to observe the animal,” the minister said.
The ministry has also urged parents and teachers to teach children not to tease, beat or approach unfamiliar dogs and to immediately report bites or scratches.
Dog and cat owners have been asked to vaccinate their animals, prevent them from roaming unnecessarily and report animals showing unusual aggression or other signs suspected to be associated with rabies.
FMD programme
The minister also used the briefing to update the public on the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination cost-recovery scheme.
He said about 72,452 livestock farmers had so far been registered on the system, with vaccination being implemented in more than 130 districts.
FMD remains one of Uganda’s major livestock diseases, with outbreaks often leading to quarantines, livestock movement restrictions and disruption of trade.
Minister Rwamirama said uptake of the vaccination programme remains uneven in some districts and urged farmers to register and present their animals for vaccination.
The government, he said, is working with district local governments and veterinary teams to improve mobilisation and vaccination coverage.
He said the goal is to establish sustainable vaccination, reduce FMD outbreaks and protect livestock-dependent livelihoods.
As Uganda marks World Rabies Day, the minister urged communities, veterinary workers, health professionals, local governments and animal owners to work together to reduce rabies infections and move the country closer to eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.
