IGANGA, UGANDA: The Busoga Health Forum (BHF) has unveiled a new strategy to integrate patriotism training with malaria eradication efforts in schools, targeting young learners as agents of change in the fight against the disease.
The initiative, championed by former Vice President Dr Specioza Wandera Kazibwe, will be piloted in Iganga District before being rolled out across the Busoga sub-region.
Dr Kazibwe said the programme seeks to simultaneously instill patriotic values and equip students with practical knowledge to combat malaria, one of the region’s biggest public health threats.
“This initiative will engage young people as key drivers of transformation, starting with eliminating the biggest threat to wellbeing in this region—malaria,” she said.
She revealed that the model had already been tested in Nawaningi Sub-county in Iganga, where it showed promising results, prompting plans for wider implementation.
The remarks were made during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Iganga High School, which brought together head teachers from Iganga and Namutumba districts, alongside officials from the National Secretariat for Patriotism Clubs.
Dr Kazibwe noted that Iganga was selected for the pilot phase due to existing administrative structures and support from local leadership.
“Piloting will begin in Iganga following guidance from the President, and we are encouraged that stakeholders have embraced the initiative,” she added.
Iganga Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Hamwada Pinto Ismael, said schools will play a central role in both promoting patriotism and implementing malaria prevention measures.
“We agreed to eradicate malaria in Iganga, Namutumba, and eventually the entire Busoga region. Schools will lead efforts such as indoor and outdoor spraying while also instilling love for Uganda among learners,” he said.
Officials from the National Patriotism Secretariat, led by Irene Ssemuko, said the programme will extend to secondary and tertiary institutions, with a focus on empowering youth to take an active role in national development and public health campaigns.
Ssemuko noted that the initiative will also address broader challenges identified in schools, including inadequate infrastructure, low enrolment, and social issues such as early marriages.
Busoga Health Forum CEO Moses Kyangwa reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to the programme, describing it as a community-driven approach to malaria eradication.
“Our objective is to integrate patriotism and malaria eradication by training both students and teachers. Iganga will serve as the pilot before scaling to the rest of Busoga,” Kyangwa said.
He emphasised that young people are critical in driving behavioural change, adding that malaria eradication requires collective responsibility from all Ugandans.
The initiative signals a shift toward combining health interventions with civic education, positioning schools at the centre of efforts to eliminate malaria in one of Uganda’s most affected regions.
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