More than 5.5 million Ugandan children had been vaccinated against measles and rubella by October 4, as the country’s five-day national vaccination campaign entered its final day, according to Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
Dr Michael Baganizi, the ministry’s immunisation programme manager, said 5.5 million children had been vaccinated against a target of 7.6 million, representing 72 percent of the target.
The campaign began on October 1 and targeted children aged nine months to 59 months, regardless of whether they had previously received a measles-rubella vaccine.
Uganda’s routine immunisation schedule gives children a first measles-rubella vaccine at nine months and a second dose at 18 months.
The campaign was intended to close gaps in protection among children who may have missed routine vaccination.
Uganda recorded 66 separate measles outbreaks in 2025, according to the World Health Organization.
Ministry surveillance recorded 589 confirmed measles cases that year, with 70 percent affecting children below five years, New Vision reported.
Among 429 confirmed cases whose vaccination status was assessed, 64 percent had never received a measles-rubella vaccine.
Another 33 percent had received one dose, while only 3 percent had received both doses.
The figures highlighted gaps in routine vaccination that health authorities were trying to address through the nationwide campaign.
New Vision reported that first-dose measles-rubella coverage fell from 95 percent in 2023 to 92 percent in 2025.
Coverage for the second dose was lower, at 64 percent.
Only 23 percent of districts achieved more than 90 percent coverage for the second dose, according to Ministry data reported by New Vision.
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The campaign covered all 156 local governments and aimed to achieve at least 95 percent coverage.
Health teams used health facilities and community outreach points, while mobile teams were deployed to reach harder-to-access communities.
The campaign faced reluctance from some parents, including in Wakiso, where health officials reported a high number of unvaccinated children.
Health authorities warned communities against misinformation about the vaccines.
When Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi launched the campaign in Wakiso on October 1, he said the vaccines were safe and had been tested, while urging communities to disregard misinformation and rumours.
Different reports cited different figures for the number of children targeted by the campaign.
The Ministry of Health figure reported by Daily Monitor on October 4 was 7.6 million. New Vision reported a target of 7.5 million, while an earlier report by The Observer cited about 7.4 million children.
The World Health Organization separately said the campaign aimed to reach nearly 7.9 million children aged nine months to 59 months.
The differences appeared in official and media reports about the campaign. The 7.6 million figure was the target cited by the Ministry’s immunisation programme manager in the October 4 progress update.
More than 5.5 million children had been vaccinated by that update, with the campaign ending on October 5.
The end of the five-day campaign did not mean the end of measles-rubella vaccination in Uganda.
Routine immunisation services will continue alongside the campaign to ensure children receive the doses they need.
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