UCRC shares knowledge about TB, HIV prevention and treatment in Kisenyi community, Kampala, Uganda

Following a recent Community Advisory Board (CAB) engagement, members noted the increasing number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Kisenyi, a densely populated area of Kampala, Uganda. In response to these concerns, UCRC conducted a community health outreach on 31st July 2026. Community mobilization was conducted before the outreach in collaboration with local leaders,
healthcare workers, and Village Health Teams (VHTs) with 185 community members participating in the outreach.
The main purposes of the outreach were to increase community awareness about TB and HIV, promote early detection, reduce stigma, and strengthen linkage to care among community members. This activity also provided an opportunity to bring TB and HIV screening and other essential health services closer to the community.
Health education and group discussions

The TB sessions covered common symptoms, how TB is spread, prevention, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, and the need to seek healthcare services early.Further engagements involved group discussions where the community members asked questions, shared their experiences and concerns about TB and HIV. Common misconceptions and issues related to stigma were also discussed.

TB Screening and Linkage to Care
A total of 80 specimens were collected for TB testing with support of the Kisenyi area TB Laboratory. Of these, one participant tested positive for TB, giving a TB positivity rate of 1.25% among those tested.
The participant who tested positive was linked to Kisenyi Health Center for further assessment,
treatment, and follow-up.

HIV Testing and Linkage to Care

A total of 90 community members were tested for HIV with a positivity rate of approximately 3.3% among those tested. All HIV positive participants were supported and linked to appropriate HIV care and treatment services:
Auxiliary health Services
To maximize the benefits of the outreach, additional preventive and health screening services were
provided alongside TB and HIV services.
Representatives from Makerere University John Hopkins University (MUJHU)Care limited and Makerere University Joint AIDS program (MJAP) supported the provision of deworming tablets for children, and conducted blood pressure screening among adults.
Conclusion
The Kisenyi community outreach activity successfully brought TB and HIV screening, health education, and other preventive health services closer to the community. The identification of TB and HIV-positive individuals, followed by successful linkage to care, demonstrates the value of community-based screening and early case detection.

The outreach also strengthened collaboration between community leaders, Village Health Teams, healthcare workers, laboratories, and implementing partners. Such collaboration is important for improving community awareness, reducing stigma, encouraging early health-seeking behavior, and improving access to TB and HIV services.
Going forward, continued community engagement and similar integrated outreach activities could
help support early detection, timely linkage to care, and improved health outcomes among
vulnerable populations in Kisenyi and surrounding communities.