Photo by: WHO

BY : Rose Kasigwa

The Ugandan government, through the Ministry of Health Uganda, has extended the second phase of its nationwide mosquito net distribution campaign to the West Nile sub-region, targeting millions of residents in a bid to curb malaria prevalence.

Under this phase, government is distributing part of the 4.8 million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs) earmarked for rollout across 32 districts in April 2026. Several districts in West Nile, including Zombo District, Nebbi District,Pakwach district, Arua District, Yumbe District and Moyo District, are among the beneficiaries in the ongoing exercise.

Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre, Richard Kabanda, the Commissioner for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, said the second phase is expected to benefit about 8.1 million Ugandans nationwide, including a significant population in West Nile.

Kabanda noted that the region remains one of the areas with a high malaria burden, making it a priority in the government’s prevention strategy.

The distribution is being conducted through Village Health Teams (VHTs) and local leaders, who are overseeing household registration and verification to ensure that nets are allocated based on family size and sleeping spaces.

Local health officials in West Nile have welcomed the intervention, saying it will go a long way in reducing malaria cases, especially among children under five and pregnant women, who are the most vulnerable.

Residents have, however, been urged to properly use the mosquito nets every night, as misuse and failure to utilize the nets have previously undermined efforts to fight the disease.

Malaria remains the leading cause of illness in the West Nile sub-region, contributing significantly to hospital admissions and deaths. Health authorities say consistent use of treated mosquito nets can drastically reduce infection rates.

The current phase is part of a wider national campaign targeting the distribution of over 25 million mosquito nets across Uganda, with subsequent phases expected to cover more districts later in the year.