A new study by researchers at Makerere University Lung Institute has found that 82 percent of adolescents aged 12–19 in Kampala are living with uncontrolled asthma, raising serious concerns about respiratory health in Uganda’s rapidly urbanizing capital.
Published in the scientific journal BMC Pediatrics (2025), the study involved 263 adolescents from 17 secondary schools, all with a documented history of asthma. Using the internationally recognized Asthma Control Test, researchers led by Dr. James Davis Katumba, along with Prof. Bruce Kirenga and Dr. Rebecca Nantanda, found that 81.8 percent of participants had asthma that was not well controlled, despite the availability of effective treatments.
The adolescents reported frequent symptoms: 98.9 percent experienced wheezing in the past year, 95 percent reported wheezing after exercise, 86.1 percent experienced speech disturbances, and 44.4 percent had sleep disturbances caused by asthma. Many also reported recurrent attacks, highlighting the condition’s impact on daily life and academic performance.
The study identified environmental factors as major contributors to poor asthma control. Adolescents who relied on public transport such as taxis and buses were nearly six times more likely to have uncontrolled asthma compared to those using private transport, a risk attributed to Kampala’s high levels of traffic-related air pollution. Exposure to household mould also emerged as a significant risk factor, with adolescents living in mould-affected homes four times more likely to experience uncontrolled asthma.
Most participants lived in urban areas, with 91.2 percent residing in densely populated Kampala communities. A majority attended boarding schools, and the median age of asthma onset was nine years. The study also noted that 67.2 percent of participants reported other chronic illnesses, with allergies being the most common. Access to healthcare varied, with distances to the nearest facility ranging from one to three kilometres, and travel times up to 32 minutes.
Researchers warn that uncontrolled asthma among adolescents has serious long-term implications, including reduced physical activity, frequent absenteeism, emergency health visits, and potential lung damage. They emphasize that the findings come at a critical time as Kampala experiences rapid urbanization, increased industrial activity, and deteriorating air quality—factors that, combined with indoor hazards like mould, are driving a growing respiratory health crisis among young people.
The authors recommend strengthening school-based asthma management through regular assessments, enhanced training for teachers and school nurses, and improved access to inhalers and preventive care. They also advocate for reducing household mould, improving ventilation, and implementing policies to curb traffic-related air pollution around schools and residential areas.
The study represents one of the most detailed assessments of adolescent asthma control in Uganda to date. “Targeted action today can prevent long-term health consequences tomorrow,” the researchers stress. These findings coincide with plans to expand respiratory health services in Uganda.
Last month, Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, launched a national fundraising drive to construct a specialized Lung Institute facility, costed at USD 14.9 million. The facility is expected to expand Uganda’s capacity to diagnose, treat, and manage complex lung diseases while supporting cutting-edge research and training in respiratory health.
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