Uganda : in Nakivale, a large-scale campaign targets thousands of refugee children against measles

SOS Médias Burundi

Nakivale, October 12, 2026 — A measles vaccination campaign was conducted last week in the Nakivale refugee camp, located in the Isingiro district of southwestern Uganda. Organized by the Ugandan Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), it targeted children aged 9 months to 5 years.

In Nakivale, the mobilization was evident. During the campaign, families responded to the call from health authorities and partner organizations. In various villages and areas of the camp, community outreach workers from Medical Teams International went door-to-door to inform parents and direct children to vaccination sites. The goal was to ensure that no child was left behind.

The campaign wasn’t limited to homes. To reach as many children as possible, teams also visited schools and health facilities in the camp.

The refugees welcomed this initiative, which they consider an important measure to protect their children’s health.

“This is a good initiative for the well-being of our children,” several parents interviewed in the camp testified.

The operation was carried out throughout the Isingiro district, where Nakivale is located.

No cases reported in Nakivale for five years

According to information gathered from local sources, no cases of measles have been reported in the Nakivale camp in the last five years. Health authorities also indicate that the disease is on the verge of disappearing in Uganda.

Despite this positive trend, the Ministry of Health intends to remain vigilant and strengthen vaccination coverage, particularly among young children, who are the primary target of this campaign.

The goal is to eliminate measles throughout the country, while ensuring that children living in the most difficult-to-reach areas also receive vaccination.

More than 150,000 refugees in Nakivale

The Nakivale camp hosts more than 150,000 refugees, including over 35,000 Burundians. Children aged 9 months to 5 years represent more than 35% of this population, which explains the importance placed on mobilizing them for the campaign.

Through operations conducted in homes, schools, and health facilities, organizers hoped to reach as many children as possible.

In Nakivale, this campaign served both as a preventative measure and as a reminder of the importance of vaccination to preserve the gains made in the fight against measles in Uganda.