The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria (UPFM) has announced that the 4th Parliamentary Malaria Walk 2026 will take place at the Parliament of Uganda, with Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth Oboth serving as the Chief Walker.
Addressing journalists at Parliament, UPFM Chairperson Christine Apolot, together with Bugiri Municipality MP Peter Oketcho and Bukooli North MP Jamal Mukuve, said the annual walk remains a national platform for mobilising Ugandans to renew their commitment towards ending malaria.
The 2026 edition of the walk will focus on malaria in schools, highlighting the impact of the disease on learners’ attendance, academic performance and overall wellbeing.
The legislators said thousands of Ugandan learners miss classes every day due to malaria, which continues to disrupt education and limit children’s ability to achieve their full potential.
Apolot noted that malaria remains one of Uganda’s leading causes of illness and death, especially among children under five and pregnant women.
“Uganda remains among the countries with the highest malaria burden in the world. Malaria accounts for approximately 30-40% of all outpatient visits, around 15-20% of hospital admissions, and remains one of the leading causes of illness and death,” Oketcho said.
He added that millions of malaria cases are recorded annually, putting significant pressure on families, schools and the country’s health system.
Apolot said malaria also creates a major economic burden for households, particularly vulnerable families that struggle to meet treatment costs.
“For parents and guardians, malaria is more than a health challenge. It is an economic burden. Families are forced to spend scarce household income on treatment, transport to health facilities and prolonged care for sick children,” she said.
“Parents lose productive working hours while caring for their children, household incomes decline, and many vulnerable families are pushed deeper into poverty,” Apolot added.
The UPFM Chairperson said this year’s walk will bring together Members of Parliament, government ministries, schools, universities, the private sector, civil society organisations and thousands of Ugandans.
“Through this year’s walk, we seek to strengthen awareness on malaria prevention in schools, mobilise resources to support malaria interventions in learning institutions, promote early diagnosis and treatment, and encourage every Ugandan to play an active role in eliminating malaria,” Apolot said.
She called upon Ugandans to register and participate in the walk as Parliament renews efforts to promote malaria prevention and control.
“Together, let us walk the talk and end malaria in our schools and communities. For God and My Country,” Oketcho said.