Climate change threatens health service delivery in Uganda, study warns
The study found that 47.6 percent of the assessed health facilities had been exposed to drought, while 39.7 percent had experienced floods and 31.1 percent storms
KAMPALA, October 23, 2026 — Climate change is disrupting health service delivery in Uganda, with droughts, floods, storms and landslides affecting health workers, water and sanitation systems, energy supplies and medical infrastructure, a Ministry of Health assessment has found.
The Climate Change Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment [VAA] report, submitted to the Ministry of Health in November 2023, examined 726 health facilities across 43 districts in 15 regions to establish their exposure to climate-related hazards and their capacity to respond.
The study found that 47.6 percent of the assessed health facilities had been exposed to drought, while 39.7 percent had experienced floods and 31.1 percent storms.
Other reported hazards included rising water levels, which affected 12 percent of facilities, landslides at 11.7 percent, lightning at 8.9 percent and heatwaves at two percent.
The findings raise concerns about the ability of health facilities to maintain essential services during extreme weather events, particularly where emergency preparedness, reliable water supplies and resilient infrastructure remain inadequate.
According to the report, climate-related hazards can reduce health workers’ capacity to perform their duties, interrupt critical health programmes, damage equipment and disrupt the supply of essential medical items.
Drought was particularly concerning, with 56.8 percent of facilities reporting an increased threat to health workers from infectious diseases associated with water contamination and vector-breeding sites.
The assessment also found that 53.8 percent of facilities reported reduced health workforce performance during drought, while 64.7 percent reported increased demand for healthcare services because of drought-related infectious diseases.
In addition, 56.4 percent of facilities reported delays in service delivery and health programmes during drought conditions.
The report noted that these disruptions could undermine the health sector’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks at a time when climate change is altering the distribution and transmission of climate-sensitive diseases.
Malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, cholera and other infections associated with water, food and environmental conditions are among the health concerns highlighted in the assessment.
The report also identified mental health effects among health workers, including psychological stress associated with climate-related hazards.
The findings were presented on Wednesday as Members of Parliament serving on the Committee on Health and the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change–Uganda attended an orientation at Sheraton Kampala Hotel to strengthen parliamentary support for implementing the Health National Adaptation Plan [H-NAP] 2025–2030.
Dr John Bosco Isunju presented findings from the assessment, which was conducted in September 2023. He led Makerere University School of Public Health’s technical team in carrying out the assessment and supporting the development of the H-NAP under the coordination of the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization and funding from the Rockefeller Foundation.
Isunju explained how natural hazards compromise water supplies, electricity, infrastructure and staff availability, disrupting the delivery of healthcare services.
On his part, Dr Didacus Namanya, the Ministry of Health’s focal point for Climate Change and Health, outlined key priorities for strengthening the sector’s resilience, including climate-resilient health infrastructure, workforce preparedness and early warning systems.
Namanya also highlighted the estimated US$ 63 million required to implement the health adaptation plan, underscoring the need for adequate financing to protect health services against the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, the Clinton Health Access Initiative [CHAI] highlighted opportunities to identify and track climate and health expenditure within domestic budgets to improve resource allocation and accountability.
Supported by Regenerate Africa and CHAI, the engagement sought to link climate and health priorities with parliamentary budgeting and oversight.
During the discussions, MPs called for specific funding proposals, regular implementation updates, better coordination of government planning and stronger engagement with district authorities.
The lawmakers’ concerns centred on the need to translate the adaptation plan’s priorities into practical interventions backed by adequate funding, effective oversight and coordinated action across government.
The Health National Adaptation Plan 2025–2030 is intended to guide efforts to strengthen the health sector’s preparedness for climate-related risks and protect the continuity of essential healthcare services.
https://thecooperator.news/kiryandongo-mothers-shun-health-facilities-due-to-systemic-failures/
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