Background: Uganda has the highest prevalence rates of asthma in East Africa. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the characteristics of respiratory manifestations associated with asthma in Mbarara, Uganda.

Methodology: This is a prospective descriptive clinic-based study conducted in Mbarara, Uganda. We enrolled 139 individuals who presented to the respiratory clinic for an initial evaluation of respiratory symptoms suggestive of asthma.

Results: The prevalence of asthma in this study was 14%. Males were responsible for 60% of cases in the asthmatic group, and females 40%. The most common respiratory symptom was chest pain followed by cough, dyspnea, and chest tightness, constituting 78.4%, 76.3%, 74.8%, and 65.5%, respectively. The most prevalent respiratory symptoms linked to asthma were dyspnea (100%), succeeded by cough, noisy breathing, and chest pain (85% for each).

Conclusion: this study indicates that respiratory symptoms are highly prevalent among participants in Mbarara, with asthma cases characterized mainly by dyspnea, cough, noisy breathing, and chest pain. Asthma was more common among older adults and farmers, suggesting a possible role for age-related vulnerability and occupational or environmental exposures.