By Lucky Patrick
Couples intending to get married have been urged to undergo sickle cell testing before marriage to establish their sickle cell status and reduce the risk of having children born with the disease.
The call has been made by Dr. Shaban Abdullah, a member of the National Medical Stores (NMS) Board, during a meeting between NMS board members and district stakeholders held on Monday at Kitumba, Kabarole District headquarters.
Dr. Shaban said the increasing demand for medicines used in the management of sickle cell disease is an indication of the growing burden of the condition and should encourage communities to prioritize prevention, early detection and proper management.
He advised couples not to concentrate only on HIV testing before marriage but also include sickle cell screening as part of their pre-marital health checks.
“Couples should know their sickle cell status before entering marriage because this is an inherited condition that can be passed from parents to their children,” Dr. Shaban said.
More about Sickle cell
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder. A person who carries the sickle cell trait may be healthy and show no symptoms, but when two carriers have a child, there is a risk of the child inheriting sickle cell disease.
Uganda has one of the highest sickle cell burdens in Africa. The Ministry of Health estimates that about 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Uganda every year.
Health officials also estimate that approximately 15 percent of Uganda’s population about six million people carry the sickle cell trait, meaning that roughly one in every seven Ugandans could be a carrier without necessarily knowing it.
A national survey has previously found an overall sickle cell trait prevalence of about 13.3 percent, although the prevalence varies considerably from one part of the country to another. Some high-burden districts have recorded prevalence of about 24 percent.
The Ministry of Health reported in February 2026 that 70–80 percent of children born with sickle cell disease die early, particularly before the age of five, highlighting the importance of early detection and proper care.
Kabarole in support of the campaign
The Kabarole District Health Officer, Dr. Stephen Kalyegiira, said many couples routinely test for HIV before marriage but overlook sickle cell screening despite its potentially serious consequences.
Dr. Kalyegiira said the district is therefore supporting campaigns aimed at encouraging communities to test for sickle cell disease and understand their status before marriage.
He said the campaign involves working with religious leaders to incorporate sickle cell counselling into marriage preparation programmes, alongside media campaigns and community sensitisation.
According to Dr. Kalyegiira, involving religious leaders is particularly important because many couples seek counselling from churches and other faith institutions before marriage.
He encouraged religious leaders, health workers and the media to use these platforms to educate couples about the importance of sickle cell testing.
The campaign comes as Uganda continues to strengthen sickle cell prevention and early detection. In February 2026, the Ministry of Health launched nationwide mandatory newborn screening for sickle cell disease as part of efforts to identify affected children early and improve their chances of survival.
Health authorities say testing before marriage should not be used to stigmatise or discriminate against people who carry the sickle cell trait, but rather to help couples make informed reproductive decisions and seek appropriate counselling.
Dr. Shaban urged communities to embrace testing as a preventive health measure, saying early knowledge of one’s sickle cell status can help families make informed decisions and prepare for appropriate healthcare.
The health officials have further called for increased public awareness, wider access to testing and continued availability of essential medicines for people living with sickle cell disease.