Health 13 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Soroti Residents Frustrated by Shortages in Mosquito Net Distribution
Residents in Soroti City West Division voiced strong dissatisfaction over insufficient mosquito nets and unfair allocation during a distribution event, leaving many households empty-handed despite large crowds. Local officials intervened to address chaos and misuse amid a national campaign to combat rising malaria cases. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/frustration-as-mosquito-net-distribution-falls-short-in-soroti-5422342
Residents of Soroti City West Division are upset with the ongoing mosquito net distribution due to shortages and uneven allocation that failed to reach all households.
The event at Baptist Church grounds started around 10:30am on Monday, attracting big crowds. Soroti City was allocated 1,788 bales, while the district received 3,275 bales as part of the Ministry of Health’s nationwide initiative.
Chaos arose when some picked up nets for absent family or neighbors, sidelining those present. Evelyn Akiteng from Cell H in Senior Quarters Ward complained she was promised four nets but received only two.
Celina Apolot waited hours yet her family got nothing, highlighting the disorganization.
Cell J LC1 chairperson Denis Apuret stepped in, prohibiting collections for absentees and warning against using nets for farming or poultry, with penalties for violators.
VHT member Susan Nam reported persistent shortages, borrowing an extra bale but still missing over 240 households.
Soroti City Labour Officer Anna Aupo suggested cutting nets per household to spread them wider.
This forms part of a push to distribute 25.8 million insecticide-treated nets against malaria, with child prevalence climbing to 12.5% from 9% in 2018 per Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)