The Mpox outbreak in Uganda has reached alarming levels, with Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng confirming 1,712 laboratory-confirmed cases and 10 fatalities across the country. Addressing journalists in Kampala on Friday, Dr. Aceng provided a comprehensive update on the outbreak’s trajectory, recovery progress, and ongoing challenges.
“The outbreak has continued to expand, with a cumulative total of 1,712 laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases reported across the country. Encouragingly, 1,089 individuals have fully recovered and have been discharged from various treatment facilities,” Aceng announced. However, she lamented the tragic loss of 10 lives, attributing the fatalities largely to underlying health conditions, including HIV/AIDS, diabetes, malnutrition, and sickle cell disease.
Currently, 169 patients are receiving care in isolation and treatment centers nationwide.
The Mpox outbreak began in late July 2024, initially registering sporadic cases in Kasese, Mayuge, Amuru, and Nakasongola. This early phase was marked by intensified surveillance and targeted risk communication. However, the situation escalated during a micro-outbreak in Nakasongola from September to November 2024, driven by sustained transmission within fishing communities in Lwampanga Sub County.
Dr. Aceng noted that commercial sexual activities in these areas facilitated the spread to Kampala Metropolitan, particularly in Kawempe and Lubaga Divisions, along with Mukono and Wakiso peri-urban regions. The Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area now accounts for 73% of all cases.