Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- As of 30 March 2025, Uganda had reported 4,881 confirmed mpox cases across 103 of the 136 districts of the country, with active transmission still ongoing in 63 districts. The outbreak affects mostly young adults aged 18-39 years (73 per cent), especially males (69.5 per cent).
- Since the outbreak began, mpox has affected 825 children (416 girls, 409 boys) across 77 districts, with 253 cases in Kampala.
- Thirty-seven mpox-related deaths have been reported, with over 60 per cent linked to HIV as a comorbidity, underscoring the need for integrated mpox and HIV management.
- The Ministry of Health Uganda secured an additional 100,000 MVA-BN mpox vaccines for outbreak response and prevention in high-risk districts. High-risk groups such as fishing communities and sex workers remain key targets for mpox vaccination. Following the guidance from the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), the targeted population will receive one dose, which has an effectiveness of 76 per cent.
- During the reporting period, UNICEF reached 575,436 people with mpox awareness messages bringing the total people reached since September 2024 to 12.77 million. Communication methods included radio, TV, and community dialogues across six districts and three cities.
- In collaboration with the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) and Solutions for People (S4P), UNICEF engaged 114,843 influencers in mpox risk communication and community engagement activities reaching 957,016 people which is 118 per cent of the overall target.
- UNICEF provided Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supplies to 76 healthcare facilities for cleaning, disinfection, and decontamination of high-risk areas. These benefitted 36,759 people and reduced infection risks.
- UNICEF funding for the mpox response currently falls short by 72 per cent of the required funding to address the urgent mpox needs.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION OF MPOX IN UGANDA
The mpox outbreak in Uganda has significantly expanded since the first case was confirmed in August 2024. As of 30 March 2025, a total of 4,881 confirmed cases had been reported across 103 districts. Sixty-three districts (66.7 per cent of those that have reported at least one case) are still experiencing active transmission, having registered at least one case in the last 21 days. Thirty-seven cumulative deaths had been reported since the onset of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.78 per cent. Since the onset of the epidemic, 825 children (416 females and 409 males) aged 0-18 years have been affected across the 77 districts that have reported at least one case; 253 of the 827 cases are from Kampala. Notably, 212 (113 males, 99 females) cases were reported among children aged 0-4 years and 187 (98 males, 89 females) cases reported among children aged 5-9 years.
The outbreak continues with sustained transmission in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Masaka City, Hoima City, and Mbarara City, which have high caseloads, emphasizing the urban spread of the outbreak. Cases are distributed widely, with several districts continuing to report active cases. Age distribution of cases shows that most cases are concentrated among young adults aged 18-29 years, followed closely by those in the 30-39 year age bracket. Infections have been reported in both genders, with males particularly affected in the 18-29 age group, registering over 1,800 cases, compared to under 1,000 female cases in the same cohort. Overall, 56.1 per cent of all confirmed mpox cases are male, possibly linked to behavioral or occupational exposure patterns. Mpox-associated deaths in Uganda continue to raise serious public health concerns, particularly given the ongoing community transmission and the vulnerability of specific populations. A total of 37 mpox-related deaths have been reported, with the highest number (15 deaths) occurring in Kampala, the epicenter of the outbreak. Other high-burden districts include Wakiso (5 deaths) and Masaka City (3 deaths), reflecting the urban and peri-urban concentration of severe cases. Alarmingly, over 60 per cent of these deaths have been linked to HIV as a comorbidity, underscoring the heightened vulnerability of immunocompromised individuals and the need for integrated mpox and HIV management approaches. Most deaths occurred in young adults aged 18-29 and 30-39 years, mirroring the most affected age groups for infections and gender (males). Males and females are both affected, with males slightly dominating the mortality profile in the 30-39 and 40-49 age brackets. Deaths were also observed among children 0-4 (1 female, 4 males) and 5-9 years (1 female) and adults above 50, highlighting the risk across all age groups.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) Uganda has secured 100,000 MVA-BN mpox vaccines for outbreak response and prevention. This round of mpox vaccination will consider divisions in Kampala (Central, Nakawa, and Rubaga) and districts, including Mukono, Masaka City, Nakasongola, Wakiso, Buvuma, Mbarara City, and Hoima City. The target population prioritized mpox hotspots and key populations, underscoring the need for continued advocacy and resource mobilization to ensure equitable vaccine access across all high-burden areas. As per guidance from the Uganda National Expanded Programme (UNEP) and the Ministry of Health, the targeted population will receive one dose, which has an effectiveness of 76 per cent.
Currently, Uganda is also rolling the malaria vaccine in 105 districts; hence, the mpox vaccine will be administered in districts where the malaria vaccine rollout will not be carried out.