Smiles behind bars: Ministry takes oral health campaign to Lira Prison

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In a rare but impactful outreach, the Ministry of Health Uganda, on March 17, 2026, took oral health services to one of the most underserved populations, prison inmates, as it launched activities ahead of World Oral Health Day in Lira city.

At Lira Main Prison, hundreds of inmates received free dental treatment, screening and education, alongside essential hygiene items such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, in an effort to bridge the gap in access to oral healthcare.

The outreach forms part of a wider regional campaign targeting communities across Lango, where access to dental services remains limited.

Taking services to the underserved

Leading the campaign, Dr Gilvas Mubangizi, acting principal dental surgeon at the Ministry of Health, said the initiative is aimed at addressing one of Uganda’s most neglected health challenges.

“Oral health conditions are among the most common non-communicable diseases globally, yet they are often overlooked,” he said.

The dential surgeons and the Prison leaders pose for group photo

“In Uganda, dental caries alone affect about 66 per cent of adults and between 35 to 40 percent of children aged one to nine years. That is a very significant burden that we must collectively address.”

Dr Mubangizi emphasised that the Ministry is using the annual commemoration to take services closer to the people, especially in hard-to-reach and vulnerable settings such as prisons.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is accessibility. Many people have to travel long distances to receive oral healthcare. Through this outreach, we are bringing screening, treatment and preventive services directly to the communities,” he noted.

A regional campaign

The Lira prison visit marks the start of a multi-site outreach across the Lango sub-region.

According to Dr Mubangizi, the team will extend services to Alito Health Centre IV in Kole district, Bung Primary School in Kwania and Angwecibange Primary School in Dokolo.

The exercise is expected to reach over 1,000 people within four days, offering services ranging from extractions and fillings to oral health education and referrals for advanced care.

Beyond teeth: a wider health concern

Dr Mubangizi warned that poor oral health goes far beyond toothaches, affecting livelihoods, education and overall wellbeing.

“Oral health is the gateway to general health. Many diseases share common risk factors such as poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption,” he explained.

He added that untreated dental conditions contribute to loss of school time among children, reduced productivity in adults, high out-of-pocket healthcare costs and loss of confidence due to missing or damaged teeth.

“When people cannot eat properly, speak confidently or smile, their quality of life is significantly compromised,” he said.

Voices from the ground

The officer in charge of Lira Main Prison, Brenda Fassie Abaasa, said the facility currently houses over 900 inmates and welcomed the intervention as critical.

“Bringing health services closer to inmates helps us achieve our mandate of ensuring their safety and rehabilitation. Many of them come in with untreated dental conditions, and such services restore their health and dignity,” she said.

At the neighbouring women’s wing, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Maureen Nambi described the outreach as a relief to an overstretched system.

“Our health centre provides basic services, but we lack specialised dental care. We face challenges of manpower, limited drug supplies and the inability to handle complex cases. This support is therefore timely,” she noted, urging inmates to embrace preventive practices taught during the exercise.

A dental surgeon from Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr George Etii, said the outreach was designed to address long-standing inequalities in access to oral healthcare.

“Oral health services remain inaccessible to many vulnerable communities and are among the most neglected non-communicable diseases. By moving services closer to the people, we are addressing issues of equity and accessibility,” he said.

Partnerships driving the effort

The outreach has brought together multiple partners, including Lira Regional Referral Hospital, the Uganda Dental Association and the Uganda Dental Officers and Technologists Association.

Teams on the ground offered on-the-spot treatment, including tooth extractions, cleaning and basic procedures, while complex cases were referred for specialised care.

Why Lira?

Dr Mubangizi said the choice of Lira reflects both population need and service gaps.

“We select different regions each year, and this time we chose Lango because many communities here still face serious challenges in accessing oral healthcare,” he said.

Looking ahead

The acting director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Andrew Odur, said the activities are a precursor to the national celebrations, which will now be held in April in Lira city after a postponement due to the Eid al-Fitr period.

“As we prepare for the main event, we found it important to reach out to communities across Lango. The burden of oral diseases remains high, and early awareness is critical, especially among children,” he said.

The bigger picture

As Uganda grapples with rising non-communicable diseases, health experts say oral health can no longer remain on the margins.

“Prevention is key,” Dr Mubangizi stressed.

“With the right knowledge, simple practices like brushing and regular check-ups can significantly reduce this burden.”

For the inmates at Lira Main Prison, the day offered more than treatment, it restored dignity, relief and, quite literally, the chance to smile again.