By Eye Media | Apac | July 19, 2026

More than 160 residents of Acholi Inn Landing Site Village in Akokoro Sub-county, Apac District have been infested with jiggers, forcing the community to rely on local remedies as leaders appeal for urgent government intervention.

The outbreak has left children and elderly people among the hardest hit, with residents saying many victims are enduring severe pain, especially at night.

Keny Bombastic, a resident of the area, said although many of those initially affected are recovering, at least three people remain in critical condition.

“There were 160 people who were infected but they are now recovering. Some three are still in a very bad condition. They are suffering too much and we are worried that the situation may run out of hand,” he said.

Another resident, James Bob Odong, said the infestation has caused immense suffering, particularly among children.

“We have many children who are already infested with jiggers and they are crying too much, especially at night, because they are in great pain,” he said.

The LC1 Chairperson of Acholi Inn Landing Site Village, Patrick Akugizibwe, said the community has been left with no option but to remove the jiggers manually and use locally available materials to dress the wounds.

“We are now removing the jiggers from all over their bodies and we are applying grease on the wounds. We don’t have medicines to treat them,” Akugizibwe told Eye Media in a telephone interview.

He appealed to the government, health authorities and development partners to provide medicines and support the community before the situation worsens.

Apac District Health Educator Augustine Okello urged residents to maintain proper hygiene and keep their surroundings clean to prevent further infestations.

He noted that areas where pigs are kept are more susceptible to jigger infestations if sanitation is poor.

“Where there are pigs, there is a high chance of jiggers. But when you keep your environment clean and practice good hygiene, the jiggers won’t survive,” Okello said.

Health officials have continued to encourage regular cleaning of homes and compounds, proper waste disposal, and improved personal hygiene as key measures to control the spread of jiggers in affected communities.

The affected residents are now hoping for a swift response from the government to provide treatment and prevent more people from falling victim to the infestation.