Target Malaria Uganda Press Kit

Malaria, a public health burden in Uganda

Malaria is still a public health burden in Uganda, accounting for 12,6 million infections and about 15,945 deaths yearly as shown by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2024 World Malaria Report.

Malaria places a heavy burden on Uganda’s public health system and economy. 90% of Uganda’s population is at risk of malaria infection. The country is one of the 11 African countries concentrating two thirds of global malaria cases and deaths: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. Sub-Saharan Africa is still the most affected by malaria, with 90% of cases globally. However, despite significant progress the past decades, efforts to combat malaria are stalling.

Existing methods to combat malaria, such as insecticide-treated nets, insecticides, and antimalarial drugs, have helped tremendously to reduce the malaria problem in Africa but, unfortunately, are not enough to eradicate malaria from Africa.

Various types of research are carried out to contribute to eliminating malaria by 2030, as advocated by WHO in its global technical strategy document for the fight against malaria 2016-2030, and Target Malaria is part of this effort.