37.2% of Ugandans affected by oral diseases as ministry warns of fake dentists
The ministry estimates that 37.2% of Uganda's population suffers from oral diseases, with oral disorders ranking 11th among conditions reported at outpatient departments across the country.
Dr Stavia Turyahabwe, the Commissioner for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health. (Courtesy photo)
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More than one in every three Ugandans is affected by oral diseases, exposing a largely neglected public health burden that the Ministry of Health says is contributing to malnutrition, school absenteeism, lost productivity and other serious health complications.
The ministry estimates that 37.2% of Uganda's population suffers from oral diseases, with oral disorders ranking 11th among conditions reported at outpatient departments across the country.
Despite the high burden, access to oral health services remains extremely low, with less than 4% of Ugandans currently able to access quality oral health services, according to the ministry.
Speaking before journalists during a media breakfast to mark World Oral Health Day on August 26th, 2026, at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Wandegeya, Dr Stavia Turyahabwe, the commissioner for communicable disease prevention and control at the Ministry of Health, said the country needs to move oral health from the margins of the health system and integrate it into routine healthcare.
“Oral health is a global economic concern as well as a public-health concern,” Dr Turyahabwe said.
She said untreated oral diseases can affect other aspects of health because the mouth is a gateway to the body. The ministry links poor oral health to cardiovascular diseases, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, respiratory infections and complications during pregnancy as leading contributors.
In children, Turyahabwe said severe dental disease can interfere with eating, resulting in inadequate nutrition and potentially affecting growth and learning.
According to the ministry, 35% of six-year-old children suffer from severe dental caries, with dental decay also contributing to pain and absenteeism among school-going children.
More than one in every three Ugandans is affected by oral diseases, exposing a largely neglected public health burden. (Credit: Freepik)
Dr Gilvas Mubangizi, a senior dental surgeon at the Ministry of Health, said the problem is worsened by limited preventive programmes in schools. He said fewer than one per cent of schools have programmes for supervised tooth brushing.
“Investment in oral health is worth calling for because the return on investment will be worth investing,” Dr Mubangizi said.
The ministry estimates that 52% of Ugandans aged 35–44 have untreated dental caries, while about 19% develop severe periodontal disease, which can cause gum swelling, tooth loss and other complications.
The burden is even higher among some vulnerable groups, with periodontal disease reaching about 80% among elderly people and people living with HIV and diabetes, according to the Ministry.
He said oral diseases also share major risk factors with other non-communicable diseases, including excessive sugar consumption, tobacco use, alcohol consumption and poor oral hygiene.
Dr Mubangizi said frequent sugar intake remains a major driver of dental disease, while inadequate fluoride exposure and poor oral hygiene further increase the risk.
Working Ugandans are estimated to lose about sh240 billion annually through costs associated with seeking oral health services, while productivity losses linked to oral disease have also been estimated at about sh64 billion.
Dr Stavia said prevention through simple measures such as regular tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and reducing sugar consumption would cost far less than treating advanced oral disease.
The dentist-to-population ratio is approximately one dentist for every 110,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation benchmark of one dentist for every 7,500 people. Dr Mubangizi warned that Uganda has only 18 dental specialists and 496 registered dental surgeons, yet only 320 of these are licensed.
Dr Mubangizi also warned that the shortage of qualified professionals has created room for unregulated practice, with some practitioners allegedly performing procedures beyond their training and legal scope.
He said some unqualified practitioners have been carrying out complex orthodontic, surgical and restorative procedures, exposing patients to complications and costly corrective treatment.
“People doing treatment on people that they are not licensed to do” remains a concern, he said, calling for stronger action against quackery in dentistry.
The ministry is finalising a National Oral Health Strategy aimed at expanding access to oral health services. The proposed plan seeks to mobilise about sh131 billion to increase access to oral health services from the current four per cent to 70%.
The ministry also wants oral health to be integrated into existing health services, including HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes, and maternal and child health programmes.
Under the proposed interventions, 5,000 community health extension workers will be trained to identify people with oral health conditions and promote preventive practices at the community level.
The ministry also plans to promote supervised tooth brushing in schools and tackle harmful cultural practices affecting children's oral health.
Officials are further calling for an increase in the oral health budget from about 1% to at least 2% of the Ministry of Health budget.