Health authorities in Kisoro District have urged residents to take stronger personal measures to prevent malaria amid rising cases in several parts of the district.
The call was made by Dr. Nick Muneza, the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Disease Control and Surveillance, during an interview with www.vomuhabura.comat his office this Wednesday.
Dr. Muneza said the district continues to record high malaria cases, particularly in Nyakabande Sub-County, Murora Sub-County, and Bunagana Town Council. According to the 2025 district health statistics, Nyakabande Sub-County alone has registered over 500 malaria cases, a situation largely attributed to the high number of refugees in the area.
Bunagana Town Council has also been affected for the same reason, while Murora Sub-County’s rising cases are linked to frequent flooding that creates mosquito breeding grounds.
He further noted that the influx of people from outside the district, including refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has contributed to the increased malaria burden, as some arrivals come into the district already infected.
Dr. Muneza emphasized that prevention remains the most effective way to combat malaria, urging residents to clear bushes around their homes, eliminate stagnant water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms appear.
He also urged the public to properly use mosquito nets once they are distributed, warning that misuse of nets—such as selling them, making ropes, or using them for poultry shelters—is illegal and will attract arrest and prosecution.
However, he clarified that the distribution of mosquito nets in Kisoro District is still in the planning phase, as the Ministry of Health first prioritized districts with extremely high malaria prevalence. The district health department is currently working with the ministry to secure mosquito nets for the affected communities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Muneza also addressed concerns regarding health infrastructure development in the district. He confirmed that the construction of health buildings at Rwingwe, initiated by Bufumbira East MP, Hon. Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, will be included in the next financial year’s budget, despite earlier public fears that the project might stall following the legislator’s defeat in party primary elections.
He further revealed that the construction of an Outpatient Department (OPD) building at Busanza Health Centre IV will also be budgeted for in the next financial year. Currently, health workers at the facility are operating from tents after the existing OPD became too small to serve the growing population.
Dr. Muneza reaffirmed the district’s commitment to improving both disease prevention and health service delivery, calling on residents to cooperate with health authorities to curb the spread of malaria in Kisoro District.
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