Makerere seeks more funding to address TB crisis among men

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Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI) has called for more funding and urgent action to address the growing tuberculosis (TB) burden among men.

The appeal was made on February 24, 2025, during a parliamentary briefing on gender-responsive approaches to ending TB in Uganda at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala city.

Zahara Namuli, the communications officer at MLI and communication lead for the Light TB project said: “We have often focused on women and children, but our latest research shows that men are disproportionately affected. If policymakers do not consider the gender lens when tackling TB, we risk undermining efforts to end TB by 2035".

She urged parliamentarians to take a critical look at the gender-specific barriers preventing men from seeking timely TB treatment.

A report from the World Health Organisation indicates that annually, approximately 91,000 people in Uganda get sick of TB with 32% of them being HIV-infected.

Dr Winceslaus Katagira, a consultant physician and research scientist at MLI, said, according to their research, TB is four times more common in men than in women where he explained that the disparity can largely be attributed to health-seeking behaviour.

Milton Muwuma, (Kigulu South) and Secretary General of the Parliamentary TB Caucus. (Photo by Sarah Nabakooza)

“Men often prioritise work and family responsibilities, fearing that taking time off for medical treatment could result in lost income. This reluctance to seek healthcare leads to delayed diagnoses and worsens their condition,” he said.

In contrast, Katagira pointed out that women often face different challenges, primarily revolving around stigma. 

“Women are more likely to fear being labelled as unfit to care for their families, and they may worry that their illness could harm their relationships or even cause them to lose their marriages,” he added.

Jasper Nidoi, a researcher at the MLI, said: “Among men, there are widespread beliefs that TB is linked to witchcraft, and as a result, many prefer to seek help from traditional healers rather than medical professionals. Even when they are admitted to a hospital, some patients remain sceptical that they have TB and might leave the ward to consult traditional healers".

She also identified a strong misconception that TB is synonymous with HIV noting that, “many people in the community assume that anyone with TB also has HIV, which adds to the stigma and discourages men from coming forward for diagnosis and treatment”.

She stressed the importance of dispelling these myths through targeted education campaigns and innovative interventions.

One such intervention developed by MLI researchers is a "summary stamp" that simplifies TB screening. This tool highlights the four cardinal symptoms of TB which include a cough lasting two weeks or more, unexplained weight loss, fever and night sweats in a simple checkbox format.

The stamp has been implemented in healthcare facilities to ensure that TB screening is systematic and covers all relevant symptoms. 

“Since introducing this tool in health facilities, we have seen a significant increase in TB notifications among men, without decreasing the rates among women,” Nidoi noted.

MPs speak

Dr Michael Bukenya (Bukuya County)

Providing men with special times for consultations and encouraging them to seek care earlier would go a long way in improving health outcomes, particularly in terms of early diagnosis. Engaging men more effectively in health promotion is key to preventing the spread of diseases not only TB but others also.

Joel Ssebikari (Ntwetwe) and chairperson TB Parliamentary Caucus

As we plan for the 2025-2026 financial year, we should allocate funds to institutions like MLI to ensure that their efforts continue. Their data shows that for every woman with TB, there are four undiagnosed men who are not receiving treatment. With adequate funding, we can conduct more contact tracing and bring these men into care, ultimately helping to eliminate TB by 2035. TB is an airborne disease, and people can contract it in any public space whether at the beach, in church, or at a gathering making it a nationwide concern.

Milton Muwuma, (Kigulu South) and Secretary General of the Parliamentary TB Caucus,

We have partnered with the Ugandan National Stop TB Partnership to sensitize communities and engage stakeholders in the fight against TB. The collaboration with the MLI is especially promising, as it brings together valuable research, medical care, and patient treatment services. We are eager to reach out to the public and encourage them to make use of the excellent services provided by the Lung Institute. By increasing awareness and access to care, we can make significant progress in eliminating TB from Uganda.