Implementing a Real-Time Excess Mortality Surveillance Dashboard in Uganda's DHIS2 platform
1
Data for health, Center for Disease Control Foundation, Hyattsville MD, United States
2
Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance & Public Health Emergencies Department., MOH, Kampala, Uganda
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Excess mortality surveillance is critical for detecting disease outbreaks, health system failures and public health emergencies. Uganda lacked a systematic mechanism for tracking facility-based excess deaths in real-time. This gap hindered timely public health response and resource allocation. To address this challenge, the Ministry of Health integrated an excess mortality surveillance module into the DHIS2 platform in 2025.
METHODS:
We developed a prototype digital dashboard that calculates excess facility deaths by comparing observed deaths against historical baselines using statistical methods. The system collects mortality data from health facilities across 15 regions and 146 districts through the DHIS2 platform. Regional and district-level data are aggregated and visualized through interactive charts displaying temporal trends from 2020-2024. The dashboard employs automated data validation protocols to ensure data quality and completeness.
RESULTS:
The prototype dashboard successfully visualized excess mortality patterns across Ugandan regions using retrospective data. The system identified significant regional variations, with Bugisu, Tooro, Bukedi, Kampala and Kigezi regions showing elevated excess deaths over the surveillance period. District-level granularity enabled identification of mortality clusters requiring investigation, including Kasese and Kabarole districts in Tooro region, which registered the highest excess deaths. Health facility-level analysis revealed that Health Centre IIIs consistently reported elevated excess deaths. Retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022) demonstrated the dashboard's utility for detecting mortality spikes associated with public health emergencies. Initial stakeholder feedback indicates strong interest in scaling the prototype for routine surveillance operations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Digital integration of excess mortality surveillance within Uganda's DHIS2 offers a promising approach to strengthening health systems capacity for early detection and response. This prototype demonstrates how surveillance infrastructure, when embedded in existing digital health platforms, can enhance public health preparedness and inform evidence-based policy decisions. Further development and validation are needed to support nationwide implementation.
Excess mortality surveillance is critical for detecting disease outbreaks, health system failures and public health emergencies. Uganda lacked a systematic mechanism for tracking facility-based excess deaths in real-time. This gap hindered timely public health response and resource allocation. To address this challenge, the Ministry of Health integrated an excess mortality surveillance module into the DHIS2 platform in 2025.
METHODS:
We developed a prototype digital dashboard that calculates excess facility deaths by comparing observed deaths against historical baselines using statistical methods. The system collects mortality data from health facilities across 15 regions and 146 districts through the DHIS2 platform. Regional and district-level data are aggregated and visualized through interactive charts displaying temporal trends from 2020-2024. The dashboard employs automated data validation protocols to ensure data quality and completeness.
RESULTS:
The prototype dashboard successfully visualized excess mortality patterns across Ugandan regions using retrospective data. The system identified significant regional variations, with Bugisu, Tooro, Bukedi, Kampala and Kigezi regions showing elevated excess deaths over the surveillance period. District-level granularity enabled identification of mortality clusters requiring investigation, including Kasese and Kabarole districts in Tooro region, which registered the highest excess deaths. Health facility-level analysis revealed that Health Centre IIIs consistently reported elevated excess deaths. Retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022) demonstrated the dashboard's utility for detecting mortality spikes associated with public health emergencies. Initial stakeholder feedback indicates strong interest in scaling the prototype for routine surveillance operations.
CONCLUSIONS:
Digital integration of excess mortality surveillance within Uganda's DHIS2 offers a promising approach to strengthening health systems capacity for early detection and response. This prototype demonstrates how surveillance infrastructure, when embedded in existing digital health platforms, can enhance public health preparedness and inform evidence-based policy decisions. Further development and validation are needed to support nationwide implementation.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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