Nansana schools agree to measles-rubella vaccination

5 October 2026, 8:12 pm

By Edwin Okurmu Kisa

A team from Nansana Division has revisited schools that had earlier failed to comply with the Ministry of Health’s call to vaccinate children against measles and rubella.

The team included Nansana Division Town Clerk Namiiro Rosette Ssetimba, Health Inspector Nanyanzi Fatumah, and Assistant Health Inspectors Nabikamba Fredrick, Namukabya Josephine and Ssenono Ivan.

The vaccination exercise started on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and is scheduled to end on Monday, October 5. Three schools were temporarily closed after failing to comply with the vaccination exercise.

During today’s follow-up, five schools were visited, and they agreed to facilitate the vaccination of eligible pupils at nearby health facilities.

At Kazo West Primary School, the Director of Studies, Mitala Fred, said the school had received a letter from the municipal health department requesting it to organise the vaccination exercise, but he had been reluctant to act on it.

Following discussions with the health team, Mitala agreed that all children eligible for the vaccination would be taken to a health facility to receive the vaccine before returning to their classrooms.

At Thendo Pre-School and Daycare in Lugoba, a VHT who went to seek permission to vaccinate the children was initially denied access by the school security personnel.

The school’s Director of Studies, Kizito Yusuf, said the decision was based on security concerns. He cited an incident in which a man identified as Christopher Okello Onyum reportedly entered a nursery school in Kampala and killed toddlers.

After discussions with the health team and the VHT, the school agreed to allow the vaccination team to visit tomorrow and vaccinate the children.

At Trinity Infant School in Nansana, Head Teacher Grace Babirye said the school did not object to the vaccination exercise but blamed what she described as inadequate sensitisation about its importance.

Babirye said that after receiving the letter from the municipal health department, the school contacted parents, but many had already received information on social media claiming that the vaccine was harmful to their children.

She agreed that the eligible children would be taken to the nearest health facility to receive the vaccine before returning to class.

At Brooklyn Junior Academy, the Director of Studies, Abdu Karim, said the school had convened a meeting with parents after receiving the vaccination notice, but the parents did not consent to the exercise.

He also agreed to have the children taken to the nearest health centre for vaccination.

The health team, however, found the school in poor hygienic conditions. The area was reportedly emitting a bad smell, while wastewater from the kitchen was flowing through a dirty trench.

The team advised the school to construct a soak pit to properly manage wastewater from the kitchen instead of allowing it to flow onto the road.

At Yesu Amala Parents School, the bursar, Nanfuka Angel, said the school had received the municipal health department’s letter and agreed to have the children vaccinated.

However, she said the health team that was expected to carry out the vaccination did not turn up.

The health team directed the school to take the eligible children to the nearest health facility to receive the vaccine before they return to class.

Assistant Health Inspector Nabikamba Fredrick said the visit was a follow-up to identify schools that had refused to vaccinate children, as the exercise reached its final day.

Meanwhile, Assistant Health Inspector Ssenono Ivan appealed to parents not to fear the vaccination exercise, saying the vaccine had been tested and was safe for children.