Kampala, Uganda— Uganda has launched its most ambitious malaria vaccination campaign yet, targeting 1.1 million children under the age of two to curb one of the country’s deadliest diseases.
The nationwide rollout was officially launched on Wednesday by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at Booma Grounds in Apac district, northern Uganda.
Addressing officials, health workers, and parents, she described the campaign as a crucial step towards protecting future generations.
The vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, will be administered to infants aged six to 18 months and is expected to significantly reduce malaria-related deaths among young children.
“This is a bold step towards freeing our nation from the burden of malaria, a disease that has stolen the futures of countless children, strained our healthcare system, and hindered our economic progress,” Nabbanja said at the event.
The campaign will cover 105 districts with high and moderate malaria transmission rates, making it the most extensive malaria immunisation effort in Uganda’s history.
The vaccine, which was pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021, has already shown promising results in pilot programmes across Africa. Trials conducted in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have demonstrated its ability to reduce malaria-related deaths by 13% and significantly cut hospital admissions.
Uganda now joins 18 other African nations in integrating the vaccine into routine immunisation programmes, a move health experts believe will be a game-changer in the fight against the disease.
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, hailed the introduction of the vaccine as a milestone in the country’s long-running battle against malaria.
She emphasised that the vaccine is expected to prevent at least 800 cases of severe malaria in children every day, helping to alleviate pressure on hospitals and reduce treatment costs for families.
Parents and caregivers have been urged to ensure that their children receive all four recommended doses—administered at six, seven, eight, and 18 months—to guarantee full protection.
Malaria remains the leading cause of illness and death among young children in Uganda, with 10.9 million cases and 3,582 related deaths recorded in 2024 alone. The disease places a significant burden on both families and the healthcare system, making the introduction of the vaccine a critical intervention. Uganda has already received 2.2 million out of the 3.5 million doses allocated for the first phase of distribution, supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO’s representative in Uganda, commended the government’s commitment to tackling malaria through vaccination.
He noted that integrating the vaccine into Uganda’s immunisation schedule, which now includes 14 childhood vaccines, represents a significant investment in public health and child survival.
The rollout is being accompanied by public awareness campaigns to encourage parents to take advantage of the vaccine while continuing to use other malaria prevention measures, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor spraying, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
Dr Robin Nandy, the UNICEF representative in Uganda, underscored that the vaccine should be seen as part of a broader strategy rather than a standalone solution.
