By Joseph Kiggundu
KAMPALA-The Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has dismissed claims that recent student deaths in Uganda were caused by a new strain of malaria, saying available scientific evidence shows the fatalities were linked to severe malaria among learners with low immunity rather than a more dangerous parasite.
Presenting a ministerial statement before Parliament on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Dr. Baryomunsi said continuous genomic surveillance conducted by the National Malaria Control Division, in collaboration with research partners, has found no evidence of any new or more virulent malaria strain circulating in the country.
He explained that Plasmodium falciparum remains the dominant malaria parasite in Uganda, accounting for about 97 percent of infections, and that its characteristics have not changed.
The minister’s statement followed concerns raised by Kigulu County South MP Andrew Kaluya over reports of severe malaria cases and student deaths in several urban boarding schools.
Dr. Baryomunsi confirmed that four students in the Kampala Metropolitan Area had died from severe malaria, including two learners from Makerere College School, one from Mengo Senior Secondary School and one from Gayaza High School.
He clarified, however, that other student deaths reported in schools at Naalya, Ndejje, Katakwi and Kakiri were unrelated to malaria, noting that they resulted from suicide, trauma and road accidents.
According to the minister, students raised in urban areas such as Kampala have become more vulnerable to severe malaria because declining malaria transmission has reduced their natural exposure to the disease, leaving them with lower immunity compared to children from high-transmission areas.
To strengthen prevention and response, Dr. Baryomunsi said the Ministry of Health, working with the Ministry of Education and Sports, is rolling out several interventions. These include updated rapid malaria diagnosis guidelines, training school administrators on emergency referrals, strengthening school health services, conducting malaria risk assessments in schools, issuing a ministerial circular on malaria prevention and treatment, and gradually deploying school nurses.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no learner dies or misses education due to delayed malaria prevention, diagnosis or treatment.
Reacting to the ministerial statement, MP Andrew Kaluya welcomed the government’s response, saying the measures had reassured both parents and leaders, while emphasizing the need for stronger efforts to combat malaria.
Tororo South County MP Frederick Angura urged the ministry to improve healthcare access by establishing Health Centre IIIs in sub-counties that currently lack them.
Wakiso District Woman Representative Ethel Naluyima called for the integration of mental health programmes in schools, especially following reports of non-malaria-related student deaths.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth supported the proposal, urging both the Health and Education ministries to develop a comprehensive plan to address learners’ health and well-being.
Meanwhile, UPDF Representative Gen. Samuel Kavuma expressed concern over the low number of Ugandans seeking routine medical check-ups and highlighted the need to improve access to accurate diagnosis across the country.