Health minister warns against misusing vaccine-distribution vehicles for trade

1 May 2025, 10:48 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, yesterday officiated the launch of the Vaccine Last-Mile Delivery Initiative at the National Medical Stores in Kajjansi, Wakiso District. The initiative aims to ensure that vaccines are delivered directly to health facilities on a monthly basis, improving timely and reliable access across the country.

Previously, vaccine deliveries only reached district or city stores. “This initiative will strengthen our immunisation programme by reducing stock-outs, preventing wastage, and reaching zero-dose children who have never received any vaccine,” said Dr Aceng.

The launch was attended by various partners, including GAVI, WHO, and PATH. A total of USD 2 million has been invested in the procurement of 28 vehicles, of which 20 have so far been received.

This rollout marks a significant step towards achieving universal vaccine coverage and equitable healthcare access throughout Uganda.

“We must ensure that health workers are using these vaccines. It’s not just about supply; we need to improve vaccine supervision, which is weak in some areas. We have 12 districts performing poorly, some of which are in the Busoga region, which is why we decided to start there. Their vaccine coverage levels are quite low, and it is crucial to ensure that cold chain systems are properly maintained so that when National Medical Stores (NMS) delivers the vaccines, they remain in good condition as they are used,” Dr Aceng explained.

The minister called on responsible personnel to ensure that they supervise and monitor the process effectively.

“I am aware that the National Medical Stores has received 20 vehicles, with 8 more expected soon. This is a great milestone. However, 28 vehicles are not enough for the 149 districts. I continue to appeal to our partners at all levels: we must work together to fill these vehicles. These vehicles will be used to support distribution within districts and will be managed by NMS. No district should misuse these vehicles for other purposes, such as turning them into fish-selling vehicles. They remain the sole property of NMS and are for vaccine distribution only. I say this because we have evidence of what happened with the COVID-19 pick-ups and the GAVI pick-ups. Let us ensure these vehicles are used for the purpose they are intended,” she said.

The minister went on to appeal to everyone to support the teams by providing relevant feedback and recommendations for improvement. “As we embark on this crucial path, let us support the teams. I also want to task the National Medical Stores, along with UNEPI, to continue collecting this vital information. Please note that this rollout will be done in phases,” she said.

Similarly, Dr Medard Bikyeterezo of the National Drug Authority, who represented the board chairperson of National Medical Stores, applauded the partners for enabling them to achieve this milestone. “I thank our partners for this. The designs of these vehicles are the best in Africa,” he said. The funds for this initiative came from the Ugandan government, the World Bank, GAVI, and other partners.