Most people in Uganda living with asthma remain undiagnosed and unable to access lifesaving inhalers, said a report as the East African country marked the World Asthma Day 2026 on Thursday.
The report revealed by the Makerere Lung Institute said asthma remains one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally yet continues to be under-recognised in Uganda despite affecting a significant portion of the population.
“In Uganda, about 11percent of adults and nearly 18 percent of adolescents are affected by asthma, yet most people remain undiagnosed and only seek care when symptoms become severe,” the report said.
It revealed that misdiagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges, particularly among children, where asthma symptoms are often mistaken for other respiratory illnesses, leading to delayed or inappropriate treatment and worsening health outcomes over time.
“Up to 90 percent of children under five with asthma symptoms are misdiagnosed as having pneumonia and are treated with antibiotics without improvement,” the report said, adding that such errors contribute to unnecessary suffering and repeated hospital visits.
Among adolescents, the report noted that as many as 65 experience severe astlıma symptoms, yet only a quarter receive a proper clinical diagnosis, while many continue to live with uncontrolled disease that affects their daily lives.
“These are not just numbers. They represent children missing school, parents unable to work and families burdened by the cost of repeated illness,” it said, underscoring the broader social and economic impact of poorly managed asthma.
Uganda’s Health Ministry Director General Prof. Charles Olaro said despite the availability of effective treatment, access to essential medicines remains a major barrier.
Olaro said inhaled corticosteroids, which are recommended as first-line therapy, are still unavailable in most lower-level health facilities where the majority of patients seek care.
“Only a small proportion of these inhalers are available, and mostly at higher-level facilities, yet most patients first seek care at primary health centers where these medicines are often missing,” he said, describing the situation as deeply concerning.
MG/as/APA