Uganda and the United States of America have today signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) worth USD 2.3 billion to strengthen Uganda’s health sector over the next five years.
The agreement, signed at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, lays out a comprehensive framework aimed at saving lives, enhancing disease surveillance, and building a resilient health system capable of preventing the spread of emerging and existing infectious diseases.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija signed on behalf of the Government of Uganda, while U.S. Ambassador H.E. William W. Popp signed on behalf of the United States.
Under the MOU, the United States plans to contribute USD 1.7 billion, while the Government of Uganda has committed to increase domestic health spending by USD 500 million, signaling a shift toward greater national financial responsibility for long-term health outcomes. The agreement also includes support for faith-based healthcare providers, who play a crucial role in Uganda’s health delivery system.
The U.S. investment will support key health priorities such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, polio eradication, global health security, human resources for health, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness.
“This collaboration will yield not only disease-specific outcomes but also significant improvements in national systems, institutions, and workforce capacity. This is highly commendable,” Minister Kasaija said during the signing ceremony.
Ambassador Popp emphasized that the MOU represents a significant and long-term partnership aimed at building a more self-reliant Ugandan health sector.
“We are building on prior successes and making a significant shift towards promoting self-reliance in the health sector through strong community health systems, clear performance metrics, and a foundational commitment to data systems and global health security that will prevent and stop outbreaks from threatening Uganda, the United States, and the world,” he noted.
The agreement is expected to bolster Uganda’s readiness to manage health emergencies, strengthen community-level interventions, and contribute to global pandemic preparedness.
