MPs, Youth Champions Call for Urgent Action as Uganda’s Malaria Gaps Persist
MPs and health experts are calling for renewed attention to Uganda’s malaria response after findings from a Gender Equality Fund project revealed ongoing challenges, including limited funding, weak coordination, and insufficient community involvement.
The findings were presented during a high-level advocacy session on gender-responsive malaria services at Parliament.
Dr. Nnamode Wilda, a doctor training at Mulago Women’s National and Coaching Lead for Malaria Champions Uganda, explained that the two-year Gender Equality Fund project (2025–2026) aims to strengthen accountability and promote female leadership in youth-led organisations.
She outlined insights from gender-responsive community dialogues held in Iganga and Bukedea, which engaged men, women, and adolescents to identify gender-related barriers to malaria elimination.
Using the Malaria Scorecard—which tracks 13 health indicators—the project noted persistent issues such as high malaria prevalence, low antenatal care attendance, poor IPTp3 uptake, and difficulties in accessing health services. Ambulance services remained a major concern, marked red on the scorecard for two consecutive quarters. Community members reported paying between UGX 100,000 and 200,000 for ambulance transport, while some facilities lacked fuel or had limited control over donor-supported vehicles. Dr. Wilda emphasised the need for improved data visibility to inform targeted interventions.
Mr. Peter Mbabazi, Board Chair of the Malaria Youth Champions and staff member at the National Malaria Elimination Division, highlighted similar challenges from national field engagements. These included inadequate funding, inconsistent coordination with district health teams, limited recognition of youth-led efforts, and minimal youth representation in decision-making platforms.
He urged MPs to ensure malaria receives a mandatory allocation under the Public Finance Management Act, cautioning that donor reliance is unsustainable.
Dr. Joseph Riyonga, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, underscored the importance of community engagement, prevention, and public awareness in tackling malaria. He noted that gaps in ambulance services, staffing, and community education continue to slow progress.
During the session, some MPs expressed concern about the ministry’s communication on malaria. Kibale County MP Hon. Richard Oseku observed that the situation on the ground often differs from official reports, stating:
“In a constituency like mine, you are burying between three and six persons a day, many of them children instead of painting the actual picture, they are doing the contrary.”
West Budama South MP Dr. Emmanuel Otaala questioned whether isolating malaria funding would yield meaningful results without broader health system improvements. He said:
“Should we now single out only malaria? Does it really make a difference? The Ministry of Health is quiet…We have ambulances, but we have not even budgeted for the fuel to run them.”Dr.Otala noted.
