The Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey (UMIS) 2024-25 published by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) highlights an alarming trend of malaria prevalence among children aged 6 to 59months rose to 13% up from 10% in previous 2018-19cycle
Luweero district released a malaria report showing that
at least 33 people died from malaria in Luwero district during the 2025/2026 financial year, with children under five accounting for more than half of the deaths.Infectious Diseases
According to the district health report for FY 2025/26, 18 of the 33 malaria deaths were children below five years, while 15 were people aged five years and above.
Diabetes mellitus was the leading cause, claiming 43 lives, followed by malaria. Tuberculosis (TB) was third with 29 deaths, while urinary tract infections (UTIs) accounted for 23 of the 279 deaths registered during the year.
Although malaria deaths have generally declined in recent years, health officials and local leaders remain concerned about the persistence of fatalities from a disease that is preventable and treatable.
The district recorded 99 malaria deaths in FY 2021/22, which fell to 70 in 2022/23, 44 in 2023/24 and 26 in 2024/25. The figure, however, increased to 33 in 2025/26.Blood Sugar & Diabetes
Confirmed malaria cases have also fluctuated. The district recorded 189,881 cases in 2025/26, compared with 219,986 in 2020/21, 220,205 in 2021/22, 168,430 in 2022/23, 192,594 in 2023/24 and 217,420 in 2024/25.
Luwero district health officer (DHO), Dr Innocent Nkonwa, attributed some of the deaths to delayed access to healthcare, inappropriate treatment practices and patients arriving at health facilities when their conditions had already deteriorated.Death & Tragedy
He said the situation was particularly concerning among patients with other chronic illnesses, whose conditions can complicate malaria infections.
Nkonwa said health facilities had resolved to test every patient presenting with symptoms that could be associated with malaria before ruling out the disease and diagnosing other conditions.
The district is also strengthening integrated community case management (iCCM), under which malaria patients in rural communities can be tested and treated closer to their homes by community health extension workers.
Hon Ssekitoleko Robert , Bamunaanika county ,urged residents to consistently sleep under mosquito nets and adopt other measures to minimise exposure to mosquito bites.
He added that the community should stop using the mosquito nets for rearing poultry, and catching white aunts which majorly happens in the month of November.
Nakatudde Jane a resident of kikyusa-luweero district says that due to higher temperature at night causes them to deny sleeping in mosquito nets.
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