The Ministry of Health is ramping up preparations for a massive nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign set for October this year, aiming to protect every child between nine months and five years old. Officials say the exercise will cover all children in that age group, whether they have received previous doses or not, in a bid to close dangerous immunity gaps that have fuelled outbreaks across the country.
Health authorities confirmed that several districts recorded measles cases earlier in 2026, with at least a dozen deaths reported in the first few months. Many of the affected children had either missed the second dose of the vaccine or never received any shot at all. The first dose is normally given at nine months and the second at 18 months, but coverage for the booster remains worryingly low in some areas.
Dr. Michael Baganizi, programme manager for the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation, has repeatedly stressed the urgency. “We cannot keep firefighting outbreaks every year,” he said during a recent briefing. “This October campaign is our chance to give every child under five full protection, free of charge, at health facilities, schools and community outreach points.”
Already, vaccines are beginning to reach the districts. In Kisoro, for example, 75,000 doses arrived this week from the National Medical Stores, part of the larger consignment being distributed ahead of the October dates. Similar deliveries are expected in other high-risk areas including parts of Karamoja, northern Uganda and the central region where sporadic cases continue to surface.
Parents and caregivers are being urged to prepare their children. Ministry messages circulating on social media and radio remind families that two doses provide the strongest shield against measles, a disease that spreads easily and can cause severe complications, blindness or death, especially among young children. “Has your child received both doses?” one recent Ministry of Health post asked. “Tell us in the comments.”
The decision to hold a full nationwide campaign follows years of mixed progress. While first-dose coverage has improved to around 90 percent in recent years, the second dose lags behind the 95 percent target needed to stop outbreaks completely. Misinformation, distance to health centres and occasional vaccine hesitancy have all played a part.
Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine has called on local leaders, village health teams and religious figures to help mobilise communities. “This is not just a Ministry exercise,” she noted. “It is a national responsibility. Every unvaccinated child is a risk to the whole community.”
Health workers on the ground welcome the move but warn that logistics will be critical. Cold-chain storage, transport to remote villages and clear communication will determine whether the campaign reaches the hardest-to-reach children. Partners including WHO, UNICEF and Gavi are expected to provide technical and financial support.
As October approaches, the message from the Ministry is simple and urgent: bring your child for vaccination when the campaign starts. Measles is preventable. With one concentrated effort, Uganda can push the disease back and protect the next generation.
Parents are advised to watch for official announcements on exact dates and nearby vaccination posts in the coming weeks.