The Zero Malaria in Bukasa Kirinya Village Project, implemented from May 2024 to April 2025,
was a comprehensive, community-driven initiative aimed at reducing the malaria burden in
Bukasa Kirinya, Kira Municipality. Led by the Rotaract Club of Kampala North Musical with
funding from Malaria Partners International and in partnership with the Uganda Girl Guides
Association (UGGA), Rotary Kampala North (RCKN), Ministry of Health (MoH), Kirinya HC III,
and Malaria Partners Uganda (MPU), the project achieved significant, measurable success
across its core objectives of awareness, testing, treatment, and prevention.
By empowering local Village Health Teams (VHTs) and community volunteers, the project
fostered local ownership and built a sustainable framework for malaria control. The
multifaceted approach combined VHT/CHW training, extensive community and school-based
sensitisations, strategic distribution of medical supplies and mosquito nets, and innovative
environmental interventions.
Key Highlights and Achievements:
-Significant Reduction in Malaria Burden: The project contributed to a 74.8%
decrease in confirmed malaria cases in children under 5 (from a baseline of 250 to 63)
and a 43.42% decrease in confirmed cases among pregnant women between July
2024 and March 2025.
-Enhanced Community-Level Testing: Voluntary community testing for malaria
surged by 444%, demonstrating increased community trust and proactive health-
seeking behaviour.
-Improved Preventive Practices: Household use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets
(LLINs/ITNs) increased by 18.87% and the uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment
(IPTp) for pregnant women increased by 18.18%.
-Extensive Community and School Outreach: The project directly reached 9,474
residents through 1,451 household visits and 26 community sensitisations. The Child
to Family (C2F) program was launched in 18 schools, empowering 3,541 children as
malaria prevention ambassadors, making 13,015 direct connections.
-Strengthened Local Health Capacity: 8 VHTs and 16 UGGA volunteers were
trained in community case management. Over Ushs 4.3 million worth of medical
supplies (RDTs, malaria treatment drugs, mosquito nets) were donated to Kirinya
Health Centre III formerly a HC II, strengthening its capacity to manage malaria. A
medical camp served 403 residents with a range of free health services.
-Economic Empowerment: The project consciously directed its procurement,
awarding over 70% of its Ushs 24.1 million in supplies to youth-led enterprises and
over 60% of these being women-owned businesses, directly contributing to local
economic development.
-Strong Collaborative Framework: The project successfully united 5 Rotary clubs,
24 Rotaract clubs, and 27 non-Rotarian partner entities, including government
bodies (Ministry of Health, Kiira Municipality, Kirinya HC III), a local NGO (UGGA), 18
schools, and 5 media houses, demonstrating a powerful model for collective action.
The project not only achieved its immediate goals of reducing malaria morbidity but also laid
a strong foundation for sustained, community-led health action. The challenges encountered
have provided valuable lessons that inform robust recommendations for future interventions
in health, education, and economic development within the community.
Overall Impact
The project's impact extended far beyond statistics, creating tangible and lasting change in
the health, social, and economic fabric of Bukasa Kirinya.
Health Impact: The most critical impact was the drastic reduction in malaria cases, particularly
among vulnerable children and pregnant women. This translates directly to lives saved,
reduced suffering, and a lower burden on the local health facility. The surge in community
testing and improved LLIN/ITN usage signifies a fundamental shift in community behaviour
towards prevention and early diagnosis. The donation of medical supplies and the provision
of diverse services at the health camp addressed immediate health needs and strengthened
the local health system's capacity to respond to malaria and other common ailments.
Social and Behavioural Impact: The project successfully fostered a sense of community
ownership and empowerment. Residents moved from passive recipients to active participants
in their health. This was evidenced by their involvement in clean-up campaigns/hygiene
practices like clearing stagnant water purposed to destroy mosquito breading areas, the
adoption of planting mosquito repellent plants, and the growing trust and respect for the VHTs.
The Child to Family (C2F) program created a new generation of young health ambassadors,
embedding health education within family structures for long-term cultural change. Over 3,400
hours of community service were volunteered, demonstrating a powerful collective
commitment.
Economic Impact: The economic impact was twofold. Firstly, reduced malaria incidence
meant less money spent by families on treatment and less time lost from work and school,
contributing to household economic stability. Secondly, the project delivered direct economic
benefits through its procurement strategy. By awarding Ushs 24.1 million in contracts for
goods and services, with over 70% going to youth-led enterprises and over 60% of these
to women-owned businesses, the project fuelled local entrepreneurship and promoted
financial inclusion.
Overview of Objectives & Activities
Project Overview
Malaria continues to be a major public health challenge in Uganda, imposing significant health
and economic costs on families and communities. The "Zero Malaria in Bukasa Kirinya Village"
project was conceived as a targeted, community-centric response to this challenge.
Implemented by the Rotaract Club of Kampala North Musical and its partners, and funded by
a small grant from Malaria Partners International, the initiative was designed to prioritise
community engagement and focus on the most vulnerable groups—pregnant women and
children under five—as a key strategy to combat malaria and improve overall health outcomes
in the chosen locality.
Project Objectives
The project was structured around four core pillars, aiming to create a comprehensive defence
against malaria:
1. Awareness: To educate the wider community on malaria prevention techniques and
foster behavioural change through targeted training and sensitisation.
2. Testing: To sensitise and encourage the community of Bukasa-Kirinya to embrace
voluntary malaria testing and the importance of early diagnosis.
3. Treatment: To guide the community on the critical importance of seeking proper
medical treatment for malaria from recognised health facilities and personnel.
4. Medication & Care: To reinforce the benefits of completing prescribed malaria
treatment dosages and to encourage pregnant women to attend all recommended
antenatal care (ANC) visits.
Project Activities
To achieve its objectives, the project executed a range of activities, including:
- Training and Capacity Building: Conducted comprehensive training for 8 VHTs/CHWs and 16 UGGA volunteers on community case management of malaria.
- Community Outreach and Sensitisation: Engaged in extensive door-to-door visits (reaching 1,451 households), community clean-ups, and group sensitisation campaigns (conducting 26 education campaigns).
- School-Based Programs: Launched the Child to Family (C2F) program in 18 schools, establishing malaria clubs and empowering students as change agents.
- Health Service Delivery: Organised a major medical camp providing free testing, treatment, and consultations for malaria and other ailments to 403 residents.
- Strengthening Health Facilities: Donated essential medical supplies, including rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), antimalarial drugs, and 120 insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to Kirinya Health Centre III.
- Environmental Interventions: Planted 108 mosquito-repellent plants in schools and community spaces to promote sustainable vector control.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Held regular inception, planning, and evaluation meetings with all partners, including Kira Municipal Council, local leaders, and VHTs, to ensure alignment and collaborative success.
Geographical Location
The project was implemented in Bukasa & Kirinya Villages, located in Bweyogerere Parish,
Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda. This area was selected due to its high malaria
prevalence, proximity to wetlands that serve as mosquito breeding grounds, and the presence
of a willing and engaged community. The project's activitie
Learn More About the Project
Malaria remains one of the leading health challenges in the Bukasa-Kirinya Village of Uganda, particularly affecting pregnant women and children under five. A baseline survey at the Kirinya Health Centre II recorded 75 malaria cases among pregnant women and 250 cases in children under five between May - June 2023. These numbers reflect the urgent need for improved prevention, testing, and treatment efforts in the community.
The impact of malaria extends beyond health—it also affects education and economic stability. In Uganda, each malaria incidence costs families an average of $9 USD, or 3% of their annual income. Many residents rely on self-medication with herbs, often without proper diagnosis, due to frequent drug shortages at public health centers and the high-cost of private care. Additionally, poor drainage systems contribute to mosquito breeding, increasing the risk of malaria transmission.
Recognizing these challenges, the Rotaract Club of Kampala North Musical (RCTKNM), in partnership with Malaria Partners Uganda (MPU) and other stakeholders, launched the Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya Village project in 2024.
With funding from Malaria Partners International Community Impact Grants Program, this project aims to reduce malaria prevalence through education, testing, treatment, and environmental interventions, while equipping health workers and clinics with the tools needed for sustained malaria prevention and care.
Project Design: A Solution-Focused Approach
To effectively reduce malaria cases in Bukasa-Kirinya Village, each initiative was designed to address specific challenges faced by the community, while supporting a sustainable and long-term impact. Here’s how the project’s approach aligned with the community’s needs:
- Training Volunteers & Health Workers → Many residents rely on home remedies due to limited access to healthcare. Training Village Health Technicians (VHTs) and Uganda Girl Guides Association (UGGA) volunteers equips them with the skills to provide accurate malaria education, screenings, and referrals, ensuring more people in their communities receive proper care.
- Community Outreach → Educating residents on malaria prevention, testing, and treatment encourages early diagnosis and proper care at health facilities, helping to reduce reliance on self-medication and untreated cases.
- Environmental Clean-Ups → Stagnant water in the village creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes. Clean-up efforts clear drainage channels and promote better sanitation, reducing mosquito breeding areas and malaria transmission.
- Health Infrastructure Support → Providing antimalarial drugs, diagnostic kits, and medical supplies strengthens Kirinya Health Centre II, improving access to malaria testing and treatment.
- Media and Awareness Campaigns → Sharing malaria prevention and treatment messages through radio, TV, and social media reaches a wider audience, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and antenatal care.
