Members of Parliament have raised concerns over rising malaria infections and reported deaths, including among school-going children, and called on the government to strengthen disease surveillance, improve school health systems, and accelerate interventions against one of Uganda’s deadliest diseases.
The matter was first raised by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, who informed the House that six malaria-related cases had been reported to his office.
Kalungu County South MP Andrew Kiiza Kaluya urged the Ministry of Health to respond urgently to what he described as an emerging malaria strain affecting children, particularly those below the age of 15. Kaluya said communities were increasingly alarmed by the growing number of malaria infections and questioned whether schools were adequately prepared to identify and respond to learners who fall ill.
He noted that although the Ministry of Health acknowledged identifying the strain more than two years ago, anxiety among parents continues to grow as infections among children increase.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi acknowledged that malaria remains one of Uganda’s most significant public health challenges despite years of sustained prevention and control efforts.
He said government data indicates that malaria parasite prevalence has declined significantly over the past decade, from about 43 per cent in 2009 to 13 per cent today. However, Baryomunsi noted that Uganda continues to experience seasonal spikes in malaria transmission, particularly between May and July, and again from September to November.
The minister said he had directed Ministry of Health officials to monitor malaria reports daily and pledged to present Parliament with a comprehensive statement outlining the government’s response, including interventions targeting schools and communities.
The parliamentary debate comes amid growing concern among parents, teachers, and health workers over the increasing number of learners falling ill during the current malaria transmission season.
Health experts have long warned that school-age children remain particularly vulnerable to severe malaria, especially in high-transmission areas where delayed diagnosis and treatment can quickly result in life-threatening complications.
Members of Parliament argued that schools require stronger health protocols, improved referral systems, and greater awareness among parents and teachers to ensure children receive timely diagnosis and treatment.
Uganda remains among the countries with the highest malaria burden globally. The disease accounts for a significant proportion of outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and childhood illness. Government interventions have included the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, community health worker programmes, seasonal surveillance, rapid diagnostic testing, and expanded access to artemisinin-based combination therapies.
Meanwhile, health experts have questioned why government malaria control programmes, including free mosquito net distribution, indoor residual spraying, and other preventive interventions, have largely excluded schools, despite more than half of Uganda’s population being under the age of 15 and the majority attending school.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network after three secondary school students in Kampala succumbed to malaria-related complications, Dr Jane Achan, a child health expert and Principal Research Advisor at the Malaria Consortium, said the recent increase in malaria among older children is not unique to Uganda but is also being observed in several other African countries.
According to Achan, reduced exposure to malaria in recent years has resulted in lower immunity among older children, making them more susceptible to severe illness when infected. She added that the recent deaths highlight gaps in early detection and diagnosis.
Achan explained that some patients develop what clinicians describe as uncomplicated hyperparasitaemia, a condition in which a large proportion of red blood cells are infected with malaria parasites despite the patient showing few or no signs of severe illness.
Without accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment, such patients can deteriorate rapidly. Dr Elizabeth Nanjego, a paediatrician and member of the Uganda Paediatric Association, recently told a virtual meeting that the increase in severe malaria cases in Kampala, a traditionally low-transmission area with an estimated malaria prevalence of about one per cent compared to the national average of 13 per cent, suggests that excluding schools from targeted malaria interventions may have left many children vulnerable-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
