KAMPALA – The Ugandan government has threatened to arrest, fine, or imprison parents who fail to vaccinate their children amid growing concerns over the rising number of unvaccinated children across the country.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The development was unveiled by the Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care), Dr. Charles Ayume, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Kampala while presiding over the opening of the National Immunization Symposium.
The symposium, themed “Strengthening Partnerships, Innovations and Systems for Equitable Life-Course Immunization,” united policymakers, health experts, and partners to exchange strategies for advancing equitable immunization coverage throughout life.
Opening the event at Serena Hotel in Kampala, Health Minister Dr. Charles Ayume declared that the government will enforce legal provisions making childhood immunisation compulsory for traditional vaccines against polio, measles, tuberculosis, and diphtheria.
He warned that parents who fail to vaccinate their children face arrest, fines, or imprisonment under Uganda’s Public Health Act, which holds citizens accountable for neglecting immunisation.
“There are clauses in the Public Health Act that hold citizens accountable if they do not take their children for immunisation. Imprisonment and fines are provided for. For traditional vaccines such as BCG, polio, DPT, and measles, immunisation is a must. It is not negotiable,” Ayume stated.
Ayume stressed that immunisation for vaccines such as BCG, polio, DPT, and measles is non-negotiable and questioned why any parent would refuse to protect their children from preventable diseases.
The Minister further acknowledged that while Uganda has made significant progress in reducing childhood deaths through vaccination, recent trends threaten to reverse hard-won gains.
Dr. Michael Baganizi of UNEPI noted Uganda’s remarkable shift from protecting children against just six diseases in the 1980s to 14 today, including malaria, with polio, severe measles, and pneumonia now in sharp decline.
Baganizi added that the new four-dose malaria vaccine faces a steep dropout after the first shot, as mothers must remember to make return visits on their own, and many simply cannot.
“Uganda has come a long way, from protecting children against just six diseases to fourteen today, with polio and severe measles now rare sights, but our newest weapon, the malaria vaccine, risks being blunted simply because mothers have to remember four separate visits on their own, and many cannot,” Baganizi explained.
Dr. Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Country Representative speaking for the UN Family, warned that zero-dose children are not just a coverage gap but represent a vulnerability to outbreaks and preventable deaths.
She noted that with 6.7 million African children fully unvaccinated and 2.8 million partly covered, Uganda risks billions in costs, yet every dollar invested in immunisation now could yield over nine in returns by 2030.
The Director General of Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro, described vaccines as one of the most cost-effective and efficacious public health interventions.
He commended the Uganda National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (UNITAG) for its invaluable role in providing evidence-based guidance that strengthens routine immunisation services.
Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, outlined five priorities to strengthen Uganda’s immunisation programme, including sustainable financing, mobilising public and private partners, and improving efficiency.
She added that empowering leaders and deepening community engagement are key measures, underscoring that immunisation is a shared responsibility, and together, Uganda can build a healthier, more productive future by ensuring equitable access for every child.
“Immunisation is a shared responsibility. Together, we can build a healthier, more productive Uganda by ensuring equitable access to life-course immunisation for all,” Atwine said.
The symposium highlighted ongoing efforts to reach zero-dose and under-immunised children, including integrated service delivery approaches and the piloting of a vaccine last-mile delivery model in partnership with National Medical Stores.
The event was held with support from PATH, WHO, Gavi, UNICEF Uganda, and CHAI, bringing together policymakers, health professionals, partners, researchers, and implementers to share experiences, innovations, and strategies for advancing equitable immunisation coverage across all stages of life.
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