Wakiso – Nine-month-old Sly sat in his mother's arms as health workers prepared the first vaccine of the day. Standing nearby, his 23-month-old sister, Ivy, waited patiently for her turn.
Moments later, the two siblings became among the first children to receive the measles-rubella vaccine following the launch of Uganda's nationwide vaccination campaign at Wakiso Health Center IV.
For their mother, Ritah Atukunda, the decision to bring them was simple.
“I brought both my children because I want them to grow up healthy and protected,” said Ritah. “I feared they would fall sick one day if they did not get vaccinated.”
Across Uganda, millions of parents share Ritah's hope that their children will be protected from diseases like measles and rubella that can be prevented through vaccination.
That hope lies at the heart of Uganda's Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign, one of the country's largest public health initiatives, which aims to reach nearly 7.9 million children aged 9-59 months across all 146 districts and cities in 5 days.
The campaign comes as Uganda works to close immunity gaps that emerged during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although Uganda has one of the strongest-performing immunization programmes in the WHO African Region and protects children against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases, important challenges remain. Measles has re-emerged as a public health threat globally, fuelled in part by disruptions to routine immunization services during the pandemic.
“This vaccination campaign is about ensuring that our children survive, grow into adulthood and live healthy lives,” said Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda's Minister of Health, during the launch of the 2026 Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign. “Together, we can protect Uganda's children from measles and rubella.”
Uganda introduced the measles-rubella vaccine into its routine immunization programme in October 2019 and added a second dose in October 2022. Yet achieving and sustaining the required 95% coverage for both doses remains a challenge. Approximately 3 million children missed their second measles-rubella dose during and after the pandemic. While catch-up efforts have reached about 1.5 million children, many remain vulnerable.
For families like Ritah's, these figures are more than statistics. They represent children who remain at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and the opportunities that illness can take away.
“I want my children to grow up and become important people in Uganda,” said Ritah. “That is why I will do everything possible to make sure they receive all the vaccines they need to stay healthy.”
The campaign is the result of months of planning, coordination and community engagement involving the Ministry of Health, district leaders, health workers, communities and partners. Its objective is to ensure that every eligible child is protected against measles and rubella, regardless of where they live.
“Vaccines do much more than prevent illness. They protect futures, give parents peace of mind and help build stronger, healthier communities,” said Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative to Uganda. “Every child vaccinated today brings Uganda one step closer to a measles-free and rubella-controlled future.”
For Ritah, however, the benefits are already clear. As she left the vaccination site with Sly and Ivy, she carried something many parents value deeply, the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children are protected.
“Now I feel comfortable and no longer worried about my children catching measles or rubella,” she said. “I will encourage every parent to take their eligible children for vaccination.”
The success of the campaign will not be measured only by the number of doses administered. It will be measured by children like Sly and Ivy growing up healthy, attending school, pursuing their dreams and contributing to Uganda's future. One vaccination at a time, the country is working to ensure that no child is left behind and every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Vaccination campaigns do not replace routine immunization. Caregivers are encouraged to ensure that children complete all mandatory vaccine schedule on time.
