Uganda to strengthen disease surveillance with PREPARE4VBD tools

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The Ministry of Health is set to integrate new tools and findings from the Predict and Prepare for Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases (PREPARE4VBD) project into its national disease surveillance systems to strengthen the country’s ability to detect and respond to vector-borne diseases.

The revelation was made by Dr Allan Muruta, the Commissioner for Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, while he was speaking during the PREPARE4VBD stakeholder engagement in Entebbe on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The EU-funded PREPARE4VBD project has been working with Makerere University and other partners to develop molecular diagnostics, climate-linked surveillance systems, and policy tools to tackle diseases transmitted by vectors. (Courtesy photo)

Dr Muruta, who was representing Margaret Muhanga, the state minister for primary healthcare, hailed the collaborative research between African and European institutions, noting that over 70% of disease outbreaks in Uganda are zoonotic in nature and many are vector-borne, making the findings from the project critically important.

“As someone at the helm of outbreak control in Uganda, I can tell you these tools are game-changers. They are scientifically sound, feasible to implement, and most importantly, relevant to our current disease landscape,” Dr Muruta said.

The EU-funded PREPARE4VBD project has been working with Makerere University and other partners to develop molecular diagnostics, climate-linked surveillance systems, and policy tools to tackle diseases transmitted by vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, and snails.

Dr Muruta revealed that many of the diseases targeted by the project are already listed in Uganda’s national priority disease registry. He promised to collaborate with the research team to review and update the list to reflect emerging threats.

“We are going to work with the scientists to ensure that all diseases of economic and public health importance are captured. Disease surveillance is dynamic, and our systems must evolve accordingly,” he said.

He praised the project’s policy briefs, some of which were presented at the event for being practical and grounded in the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence. He assured participants that the ministry has formal mechanisms in place to absorb such innovations into national policies and strategies.

“Most of your policy proposals are likely to pass through our governance structures smoothly. They are relevant, new, and address real-world implementation gaps,” he added.

The Commissioner also highlighted Uganda’s commitment to the One Health framework, which brings together experts from human health, animal health, wildlife, and the environment. While this collaborative platform is active at the national level, Dr. Muruta admitted that data sharing across sectors at the sub-national level remains a challenge.

“What’s missing is our capacity to share data across ministries and districts. But that is a gap we are working hard to close, and your tools will help us do that,” he said.

Predict and Prepare for Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases (PREPARE4VBD) project stakeholders posing for a photo. (Courtesy photo)

He pledged continued support from the Ministry of Health to ensure that early indicators, such as rising vector populations, are detected and acted upon swiftly.

“We are committed to strengthening our early warning systems. If we can’t prevent an outbreak, then we must detect and respond to it quickly,” he said.

Liver fluke disease

Speaking during the same event, Adriko Moses, Senior Entomologist and Ugandan Work Package Lead for the project, presented breakthrough findings on liver fluke disease (fascioliasis), a zoonotic infection in Uganda.

"We examined over 2,000 animal samples and more than 300 human samples across six districts. For the first time in Uganda, we confirmed two human infections of liver fluke disease,” said Adriko.

The study focused on districts near major water bodies, Hoima, Buliisa, Apac, Lira, Jinja, and Mayuge, due to their ecological link to parasite transmission.

It found a significant number of infected livers among animals brought to abattoirs, many of which were condemned, causing economic losses to farmers.

Adriko called for stronger meat inspection protocols, routine animal deworming, and community education on food hygiene, particularly regarding raw vegetables grown near swampy areas, key risk zones for infection.

“Our findings show that vegetable hygiene and poor deworming practices are driving infections. This calls for a stronger One Health approach that brings in the Ministry of Agriculture, local governments, and health educators,” he emphasised.

He also recommended that liver fluke disease be considered for inclusion in Uganda’s Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) treatment and surveillance program.

“This disease has been neglected for too long. It should be integrated into national NTD programs under the One Health framework,” he said.

Launched in 2021, the PREPARE4VBD project brought together 10 universities and ministerial partners from five African and three European countries.

The initiative is set to conclude in August 2025, marking the culmination of a major collaborative effort to strengthen global preparedness for emerging vector-borne diseases.