Uganda, US sign Shs 6.42 trillion health sector agreement
A significant feature of the new arrangement is the US Government’s intention to channel its support through government systems in the form of budget support
KAMPALA, September 9, 2026 — The Government of Uganda and the Government of the United States of America [USA] have signed a Strategic Objective Agreement [SOAG], setting out a framework for cooperation in Uganda’s health sector from 2026 to 2030.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi signed the agreement on behalf of Uganda, while the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy, Mikael Cleverley, signed on behalf of the US Government.
The agreement operationalises a Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 10, 2025, under which the US Government committed approximately US$ 1.7 billion [about Shs6.42 trillion] to support the prevention, detection and response to emerging and existing infectious disease threats.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Finance, Musasizi described the agreement as “another significant milestone” in the longstanding partnership between Uganda and the United States.
He said Uganda deeply values US support to the health sector over the years, particularly in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, management of disease outbreaks, public-health surveillance and strengthening health commodity supply chains.
“These interventions have saved lives, strengthened communities and enhanced Uganda’s capacity to respond to public-health emergencies,” Musasizi said.
A significant feature of the new arrangement is the US Government’s intention to channel its support through government systems in the form of budget support.
Musasizi welcomed the shift, saying it was consistent with Uganda’s objective of “strengthening country ownership, aligning external assistance with national priorities, and improving the effectiveness and sustainability of development cooperation”.
He stressed, however, that sustainable health outcomes require Uganda to increase its own financing of the sector.
“The Government of Uganda acknowledges that sustainable health outcomes require increased domestic financing,” he said, reaffirming government’s commitment to progressively increase funding for the agreed interventions over the five-year period.
The partnership will go beyond disease-specific interventions to strengthen national systems and institutions, build workforce capacity, reinforce accountability and enhance Uganda’s ability to plan, finance and deliver quality health services.
Cleverley said the agreement represented more than a mechanism for partnership, describing it as a demonstration of US goodwill and confidence in the Ugandan Government’s leadership and the health sector.
He said the new approach seeks to empower Uganda to take greater leadership in public health through government-to-government financing.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi welcomed the shift from predominantly off-budget assistance towards government-to-government financing, under which the Ministry of Finance will direct resources to the health sector.
He said Uganda continues to face a significant burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, underscoring the need for continued support.
Baryomunsi cited progress in the health sector, including a decline in HIV prevalence from 18.5 per cent in the late 1980s and early 1990s to 5.9 per cent, as well as an increase in life expectancy from about 43 years to 68 years.
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