Baylor College of Medicine
Children’s Foundation - Uganda
Children’s Foundation - Uganda
In the heart of Ki-Mombasa in Kawempe Division, one of Kampala City’s most densely populated areas —32-year-old NJ was battling a global crisis in her own backyard. Her bar had become a center of interest due to the increasing number of Mpox infections.
By January 2025, Kawempe division had reported 494 Mpox cases – accounting for half of the cases within Kampala City. A big number (35%) of these cases were sex workers. The numbers were rising daily, but for NJ and her colleagues, giving up their livelihood was not an option, even though it threatened their lives.
At first, they didn’t believe the disease was real. Was it witchcraft? The symptoms were undeniable. “The affected women all got to a point when they couldn’t walk. They had swollen lymph nodes and skin nodules with pus and were experiencing unbearable pain. At first, they thought they had been bewitched,” narrates NJ.
The Ministry of Health and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Uganda with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) rapidly moved to educate sex workers in the division about Mpox—how it spreads, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to prevent the spread of the virus. Posters were printed in multiple languages and 250 village health team members were trained to spread awareness rapidly within the hotspot areas.
Another woman developed similar symptoms, but had kept silent thinking that she had been bewitched, until NJ took her to a public healthcare facility where she was examined, when the situation became unbearable.
Now survivors, these women have become Mpox champions – they educate their peers about symptoms, transmission, and preventive measures. They also encourage medical treatment, and adherence to hygiene practices. “I had never heard of Mpox. But when my legs could no longer carry me, NJ got me to the health workers just in time and they evacuated me to Entebbe Treatment Center. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here.” – BK, 30, a survivor narrates her story to other sex workers.
Determined to protect each other, the women ensure that bed sheets are washed and ironed daily. The premises are regularly cleaned and disinfected. They have also installed lights in every room to help detect early symptoms and they have refused to engage with symptomatic clients.
The Ministry of Health has also vaccinated over 5,279 sex workers to prevent the transmission of the Mpox virus.
Today, the cases in Kawempe Division have reduced drastically from 494 Mpox cases to less than 50 in the month March 2025. The implementation model is now being replicated across Kampala, proving that even in the hot spots, change is possible when people come together to protect one another.
PHOTO: The joint team from KCCA – Ministry of Health, FCDO, and Baylor Foundation Uganda walking through the densely populated KiMombasa slum area.
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