Pilgrims at the Catholic Shrine in Namugongo faced a series of health issues, including stomach disorders and food poisoning, as reported by Dr. Joseph Mubiru from Mulago, who led the health service team at the shrine.

The team treated over 160 pilgrims for various ailments such as food poisoning, stomach disorders, eye infections, high blood pressure, and more.

Additionally, more than 30 pilgrims fainted before being stabilized and transferred to Mulago Hospital for further treatment. Despite the presence of several health service providers at the shrine, all fainted pilgrims are directed to Mulago for comprehensive care.

In response to the health concerns, Kira Municipality implemented guidelines requiring every food vendor at the event to undergo a health checkup to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

Dr. Mubiru assured that, despite the large crowd, there was sufficient manpower, medications, and other supplies provided by the National Medical Stores (NMS) to handle the situation effectively. Scouts and Xaverian rescue teams were actively transporting collapsed pilgrims on stretchers to health tents for immediate assistance.

However, the overwhelming number of pilgrims strained the available toilet facilities, compromising hygiene standards. This particularly affected women, who are now at an increased risk of contracting diseases such as urinary tract infections (UTIs).