Health

Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The construction of the Regional Blood Bank at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) is nearing completion, with phase one standing at 98 percent. Started in March 2025 on a piece of land donated by Lira University teaching hospital, the 9.6 billion shillings facility is …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy tenfold by 2040 is facing an unexpected threat: a fast-rising mental health crisis driven by rapid population growth, youth unemployment, and mounting social pressures. At the launch of the State of Uganda Population Report 2025 (SUPRE 2025) at …

Lyantonde, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is growing panic in Lyantonde District following an outbreak of the contagious anthrax disease that has reportedly begun claiming human lives. According to the district health department, four people have so far died, just a week after the disease was first reported in livestock. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Known for its work in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy among young people, Reach A Hand Uganda took a different approach this time around. On February 14, 2026, the organisation turned its focus to older persons through a special event called ‘Threads …

UNITED NATIONS | Xinhua | UN humanitarians on Wednesday called for an immediate scale-up of the response to the worst cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 25 years. “Since the start of the year, more than 1,300 suspected cases and 35 deaths have been reported,” …

Experts warn of loss of control under ‘highly conditional’ deals   NEWS ANALYSIS | JOHN MUSENZE | A new wave of bilateral health deals with the United States is facing growing resistance across Africa, as courts, civil society groups and public-health experts question how the deals reconfigure control over health data, pathogen …

One of the clearest signs of progress is the growing transformation of district data systems NEWS ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | Across the winding corridors of district health offices in Uganda, a quiet but profound transformation is taking place. It is not marked by grand announcements or sweeping reforms but by …

New facility advancing continuum of care and decentralised specialised healthcare in Western Uganda Mbarara,Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | C-Care Uganda has officially opened C-Care Mbarara Hospital, a fully-fledged multi-speciality hospital that marks a significant milestone in expanding access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services in western Uganda. The hospital builds on C-Care’s …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Unsafe abortion is no longer predominantly a problem among teenage girls, as previously reported. New health surveillance data indicate that adult women, many of them married and in their prime reproductive years, now account for a growing proportion of abortion-related deaths in Uganda. According …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Owing to growing concerns about poor sleeping habits and their link to mental health challenges among learners, Reach A Hand Uganda has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of sleep among adolescents, particularly students. The Quality Sleep Campaign seeks to sensitise …