Wakiso residents demand better health services as measles-rubella campaign begins

What the report says

Wakiso residents and local leaders used the launch of Uganda’s national measles-rubella vaccination campaign to press the Ministry of Health for stronger services in the district. At the event at Wakiso Health Centre IV, they called for better-equipped facilities, more ambulances, and an upgrade of Health Centre IVs, arguing that rapid population growth has strained the existing health system, especially in hard-to-reach and island communities.

According to Nile Post, the five-day campaign began on October 1 and is targeting children aged nine months to five years nationwide. Vaccination teams are expected to work at schools, homes, health facilities and other designated points. Health officials present at the launch urged parents to take eligible children for vaccination and to ignore misinformation that discourages immunisation.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Diana Atwine, said the vaccines being used had been tested and cleared, and encouraged families to trust the programme. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi also said vaccination remains important for preventing disease and protecting children, adding that the campaign does not replace routine immunisation. He warned that people who deliberately obstruct vaccination efforts, including some religious leaders, could face action. The residents’ appeal highlights broader concerns about access to healthcare in a fast-growing district and the pressure this can place on local services.