As Uganda joins the global community to commemorate World Rabies Day on September 28, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries has called for stronger cross-sector collaboration to eliminate the fatal disease.
World Rabies Day is observed annually in honor of Louis Pasteur, the pioneer behind the world’s first rabies vaccine. According to Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama, the Minister of State for Animal Industry, the annual event offers a vital platform to raise public awareness, renew national control commitments, and mobilize communities toward the global goal of ending dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.
The Power of “Stronger Together”
The theme for World Rabies Day 2026, “Stronger Together,” underscores the reality that rabies cannot be eliminated by any single sector operating in isolation.
“Effective control requires coordinated action by the animal health, human health, and environmental sectors, supported by Local Governments, communities, schools, development partners, and responsible animal owners,” Minister Rwamirama stated during a press briefing in Kampala. “The theme must translate into practical collaboration. When we work together, we can prevent avoidable deaths, protect livelihoods, and move Uganda closer to our 2030 target.”
Rwamirama reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the prevention of rabies, Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), and other priority animal diseases to safeguard public health, secure household incomes, and bolster national economic development.
A Fatal but Preventable Threat
Dr. Anna Rose Ademun Okurut, the Commissioner for Animal Health, reminded reporters that rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting both humans and animals. In Uganda, domestic dogs remain the principal source of human exposure. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their frequent interactions with dogs and a lower likelihood of immediately recognizing the danger of a bite.
“Following exposure, the disease may develop after an incubation period that commonly lasts weeks to months. Once clinical signs appear, rabies is almost invariably fatal,” Dr. Okurut stressed. “Prevention is therefore critical. Vaccinating dogs and cats, promptly washing bite wounds with soap and water, seeking rapid medical assessments, and accessing timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are central to saving human lives.”
Globally, rabies claims tens of thousands of lives each year, with Africa and Asia bearing the heaviest burden. Because the disease is entirely preventable, health officials view every death as a stark reminder of the need for sustained vaccination, stricter surveillance, and faster treatment.
The Rabies Burden in Uganda
Rabies remains endemic across Uganda. Official Ministry records show that between 2021 and 2025, 36 samples tested positive for rabies at the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC). However, because community reporting remains low, officials believe the true animal disease burden is significantly higher.
On the human side, Ministry of Health records between 2022 and 2025 captured 67,393 suspected human bite cases and 190 human deaths, alongside 356 suspected animal deaths.
Beyond the tragic loss of life, the economic toll is massive.
“The government incurs major expenditures on human post-exposure vaccines and animal vaccination campaigns,” Dr. Okurut noted. “Affected households also face high costs for treatment, transport, animal loss, and lost productivity. Preventing infection at the source through sustained dog vaccination is both a public health and an economic priority.”
“The government incurs major expenditures on human post-exposure vaccines and animal vaccination campaigns,” Dr. Okurut noted. “Affected households also face high costs for treatment, transport, animal loss, and lost productivity. Preventing infection at the source through sustained dog vaccination is both a public health and an economic priority.”
Because dog populations roam and vaccination rates vary across borders, the Ministry emphasizes that rabies control cannot be treated as an isolated district activity. It requires a synchronized national response.
Government Interventions and World Rabies Week 2026
The government continues to pursue a One Health approach to manage the disease. Key interventions include:
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- Mass vaccination of dogs and cats, particularly in high-risk hotspots.
- The provision of human anti-rabies vaccines through the public health system.
- Strengthening regional and district veterinary laboratories.
- Conducting community sensitization on responsible pet ownership, bite prevention, and immediate post-exposure protocols.
This year’s national World Rabies Day activities are being hosted by Luwero District. Planned field activities feature free mass vaccinations, print and digital awareness campaigns, and population management strategies like the spaying and neutering of pets.
“Eliminating rabies is a shared responsibility,” the Minister concluded. “Animal owners must vaccinate their pets, communities must report bites immediately, and medical and veterinary professionals must maintain seamless communication.”
Progress on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
Turning to livestock, Minister Rwamirama addressed Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), which remains one of Uganda’s most economically damaging livestock diseases. Recurrent outbreaks trigger strict quarantines, market closures, and transit restrictions that disrupt trade and limit access to domestic and international markets.
To counter this, Uganda has introduced an FMD Cost-Recovery system, which has already registered 72,452 livestock farmers. Nationwide vaccination drives are actively rolling out across more than 130 districts, marking significant progress toward a sustainable, routine vaccination model.
The Ministry is currently intensifying farmer mobilization and tightening compliance on livestock movement regulations. Minister Rwamirama urged all unregistered livestock farmers to contact their local veterinary authorities immediately to protect their herds and secure the national cattle economy.
