Community Health Workers District Entry Meeting Held in Buvuma
Today, Makerere Joint AIDS Program (MJAP) held a district entry meeting with Buvuma District Local Government officials to officially launch preparations for the rollout of the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) Programme in the island district.
The meeting brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, Buvuma District leadership, MJAP, Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), and other stakeholders to align on implementation plans for the national CHEWs strategy.
District leadership welcomes the programme
The Chief Administrative Officer of Buvuma District, Mr. Isa Mbooge, welcomed the programme and emphasized the district’s unique geographical challenges.
“Buvuma has 52 islands, yet we have worked hard to reach every health facility, including hard-to-reach and hard-to-stay islands such as Nkata near Tanzania. As we select Community Health Extension Workers, we must empower the people who are already serving communities in these villages. We look forward to continuing this partnership.”
The District Health Officer (Environment), Mr. Mukwaya Muhammed, thanked MJAP for accepting to work in Buvuma, noting that many implementing partners are reluctant to operate in the district because of its island terrain.
He highlighted that Buvuma has 13 public health centres, 38 parishes, and 213 villages, with many communities scattered across islands where access to health services remains difficult.
“This CHEWs training is timely. Many villages are isolated, and travelling from one island to a health facility is challenging. We have waited for this programme for a long time because strengthening community health workers is the best way to reach our people.”
MUWRP hands over to MJAP
Dr. Ann Nakirijja Musisi, MUWRP Coordinator, thanked the district leadership for over a decade of collaboration and assured MJAP of continued support during the transition.
“Buvuma has committed leadership that works together. CHEWs here will serve communities in deeper waters and hard-to-reach islands. Without committed district leadership, implementing partners cannot achieve much.”
Ministry of Health outlines the vision
Presenting an overview of the programme, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Ronald Ocaatre from the Ministry of Health explained that CHEWs will provide preventive, promotive, and selected basic community health services while linking households and communities to health facilities.
He noted that the initiative is rooted in Uganda’s national commitment to strengthening prevention.
“This initiative was championed by H.E. the President because prevention and cure go hand in hand. We want to strengthen the community level first so that diseases such as HIV, TB, leprosy, malaria, and non-communicable diseases are prevented before they become a burden. Buvuma was specifically selected because island communities have unique health challenges, and strengthening community health is the most effective solution.”
MJAP outlines implementation plans
Dr. Richard Kagimu, Project Director for LPHS-East Central, explained that CHEWs will undergo two months of community attachment and receive training and supervision from the Ministry of Health.
He noted that the training approach will be adapted to Buvuma’s island context, just as it was in other hard-to-reach districts such as Namayingo.
Dr. Kagimu also explained that implementation timelines are tight as partners transition into milestone-based financing at the close of the financial year.
“MJAP will provide the necessary support to ensure successful implementation. CHEWs training in Buvuma is scheduled to begin on 1 October 2026, and we need to plan together to deliver within the required timelines.”
Why Buvuma Matters
Buvuma Island is the largest island in an archipelago of 52 scattered islands in northern Lake Victoria, about 25 kilometres south of Jinja. Its unique geography makes access to health services particularly challenging, making community-based health care essential.
CHEWs will be selected through a community-led process at parish or ward level, ensuring they are known and trusted by the communities they serve. They will strengthen the link between households, communities, and health facilities by promoting healthy behaviours, supporting disease prevention and early detection, facilitating referrals, and improving access to essential health services.
National rollout
With the rollout in Buvuma, 70 local governments across Uganda will now implement the CHEWs Programme, with a total of 8,904 Community Health Extension Workers deployed nationwide.
The expansion represents a significant investment in Uganda’s Primary Health Care system, ensuring that health promotion, disease prevention, and essential community health services reach people where they live, work, and learn.
