Mukono District leaders have intensified efforts to combat malaria by urging residents to properly use mosquito nets distributed under the government’s malaria prevention programme, warning against misuse such as using the nets for poultry shelters or gardening purposes.
The call was made during the official launch of mosquito net distribution across the district, where leaders emphasized the importance of proper net usage in reducing malaria cases, especially in areas with high disease prevalence such as island communities and places surrounded by swamps and stagnant water.
Residents expressed appreciation to Mukono District Local Government and the Government of Uganda for supporting communities through the distribution of mosquito nets, noting that malaria remains one of the most common and costly diseases affecting households across the district.
Speaking before the distribution exercise, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Mukono District, Mr. Henry Ddamba, revealed that the district had received 11,640 mosquito nets for distribution to households. He explained that households with two to five members would receive nets based on the guideline of one mosquito net for every two people, targeting a total population of approximately 98,000 residents.
Mr. Ddamba highlighted the current malaria burden in Mukono, noting that 60 percent of patients seeking treatment in health facilities are diagnosed with malaria. He attributed the high prevalence to the district’s geographical conditions, where many sub-counties are surrounded by wetlands and water bodies that provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
He also explained that the last major mosquito net distribution took place in 2023, and many of those nets have since lost their effectiveness as the insecticide treatment has worn off. He expressed hope that the new distribution would significantly reduce malaria cases and announced that communities would be sensitized on proper mosquito net use before receiving them.
Mukono Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Hajjati Fatuma Ndisaba, expressed concern over the misuse of mosquito nets by some residents, who reportedly use them for farming and covering chicken houses instead of protecting themselves from mosquito bites.
She emphasized the need for increased public awareness on how to properly hang, maintain, and repair mosquito nets rather than diverting them for other uses. The RDC expressed confidence that with the support of the district’s new leadership and the involvement of local leaders and Village Health Teams (VHTs), the distribution exercise would be carried out transparently and effectively.
She also appealed to the Ministry of Health and implementing partners to consider providing additional mosquito nets so that eventually every individual can have access to their own net.
Hajjati Ndisaba commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Government of Uganda for prioritizing the health and well-being of Ugandans, noting that malaria continues to drain household incomes and hinder socio-economic development.
She observed that even beneficiaries of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) often fail to fully benefit from the support when they are burdened by illness, especially malaria, which remains one of the leading causes of death among pregnant mothers and children.
Mukono District LCV Chairperson, Hon. Francis Lukooya Mukoome, also thanked the Government of Uganda and President Museveni for supporting communities through health interventions that directly improve household welfare.
He noted that while some people may not immediately recognize the value of such government support, the financial burden of treating malaria is often much higher than the effort required to prevent it.
Hon. Lukooya emphasized that preventing malaria is an important step in fighting poverty, as households can save money otherwise spent on treatment and invest it in other productive activities.
He added that when a child or adult is sick with malaria, productivity and development are affected because families are forced to divert time, energy, and resources toward treatment instead of education, work, and income generation.
Mukono District’s renewed campaign against malaria through mosquito net distribution reflects a strong commitment to improving public health and reducing preventable disease burdens in the community.
District leaders have emphasized that proper use of mosquito nets is not only essential for protecting lives but also plays a critical role in fighting poverty and promoting household productivity.
As the distribution exercise continues, residents are being called upon to use mosquito nets responsibly, support community sensitization efforts, and work together with local leaders to ensure that malaria cases are significantly reduced across Mukono District.
