In a small health center in Moroto, northern Uganda, a mother cradled her child who had just received a measles vaccine — a moment of relief, but also a reminder of what so many families lost. In 2025, 66 measles outbreaks swept across Uganda, killing children who had never gotten even one shot. Most of the young lives lost were in places like this, where clinics are few and vaccines too often out of reach.
For years, Uganda has run vaccination campaigns, yet by 2025, only 43% of districts had reached their target for the first measles-rubella dose. Just 21 of 146 districts hit the goal for the second dose — the one that offers full protection. Among children who caught measles, 64% had never been vaccinated at all. In Karamoja, 92% of those who died had never received a single dose. The problem wasn’t refusal — it was access.
To find out why, health teams from the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and research partners spoke with nearly 1,900 caregivers across rural villages, urban neighborhoods, islands, refugee settlements, and pastoralist communities. What they found changed everything: 93% of rural parents wanted to vaccinate their children fully. Ninety-nine percent knew where to go. And 96% said family, friends, or local leaders supported vaccination. The demand was there. The system was not.
So Uganda is doing things differently. For the October 2026 Measles-Rubella Follow-up Campaign, planning started eight months early. District readiness checks began eight weeks ahead, backed by field consultants and real-time dashboards to track progress. Microplanning now uses updated census data and household counts to better estimate how many children need vaccines. National supervisors are in place earlier. Logistics teams have already begun delivering supplies. Communities with past challenges are getting tailored support, with local leaders helping to open doors.
Dr Fred Nsubuga from the Ministry of Health puts it plainly: the campaign will protect children aged 9 to 59 months, no matter how many doses they’ve had before. With support from Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, CDC/Atlanta, IFRC, PATH, Baylor Uganda, Task Force for Global Health, AFENET, and the Infectious Diseases Institute, the goal is clear — leave no child behind.
This time, the system is learning from its gaps. And for millions of Ugandan families who’ve waited for vaccines to reach them, the promise of protection is finally moving closer to reality.