Boda boda riders on Kampala streets

Mpox hits Kampala's sex workers, boda boda riders

by · The Observer

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has reported a rise in mpox cases across Kampala, with the highest concentration in the Kawempe division, recording 56 of the city's 96 confirmed cases.

Richard Walyomu, Kampala’s mpox incident commander, states that the most affected groups are sex workers, boda boda riders, market vendors, and timber dealers, with many affected sex workers also testing HIV-positive, a factor associated with low immunity.

Cases by division include Kawempe with 56, Lubaga with 13, the central division with 11, Nakawa with 8, and Makindye with 9. KCCA has established division-level task forces led by resident city commissioners (RCCs), involving religious and technical leaders, to respond to this surge. Additionally, 200 village health teams (VHTs) per division are being trained to educate communities on prevention.

"The drivers are the same across five divisions. We have realised that most of the infections are among commercial sex workers and we have also realised the data of sex workers - the majority are HIV positive, the comorbidities. So when the immunity is low, there's a high likelihood of you getting this infection when you're exposed...Even if you have a condom because of the 'water' that splashes here and there, you can get infected. Then also low immunity among the patients. Then two, the poor personal hygiene. There are people who share beds, there are some infections that have come up because of people sharing bedding and clothing," said Walyomu.

Dr Sarah Zalwango, KCCA's acting public health director, highlights further measures such as training surveillance and lab personnel, both in private and public health facilities, and initiating school sensitization programs. However, she notes that the educational resources, including leaflets and radio announcements, remain limited. In the wider metropolitan area, Wakiso has reported 33 cases and Mukono 6 cases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mpox often presents with a rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, or genital areas, following an incubation period of 3–17 days. The rash progresses through stages, eventually scabbing and healing. Initial symptoms may resemble pimples or blisters and can be painful or itchy.

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