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Health professionals often encourage people to sleep under the mosquito net at night as a way of preventing mosquito bites which cause malaria. 

However, it seems Kampala residents may not be able to heed that public health message, according to findings of a new report released by the Government.

The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey report (2022), which was released on March 7, 2024, shows that only 68.8 percent of inhabitants in Kampala were able to receive an insecticide-treated mosquito net under the Government's mass distribution programme.

This is followed by Karamoja at 79.2 percent and Lango at 81.9 percent.

Busoga, at 93.5 percent, had the highest distribution followed by Ankole at 92.7 percent.

Elgon, at 92.7 percent; Kigezi, at 91.9, and; Teso, at 91.3 percent, also received more mosquito nets.

The Government of Uganda adopted the policy of mass distribution of nets as one of the significant interventions for malaria prevention.

Three mass distribution campaigns have been implemented since 2010. The initial distribution targeted only pregnant women and children but was later expanded to include other categories.

The distribution is to cut back on the effects of the disease, which reportedly costs the government a total of shillings 2.5 trillion and kills 52 people daily.

The monetary loss is mainly due to treatment costs and work time lost while undergoing treatment. Attendants of patients also lose work time.