The governments of Uganda and the United States have signed a Strategic Objective Agreement (SOAG) to strengthen cooperation in the health sector over the next five years.
The agreement, signed on Thursday, provides a framework for implementing health interventions between 2026 and 2030, including the prevention, detection and response to emerging and existing infectious diseases.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi signed the agreement on behalf of Uganda, while the United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Mikael Cleverley, signed for the US government.
The agreement operationalises a Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 10, 2025, under which the US committed about $1.7 billion (approximately Shs6.42 trillion) to support Uganda’s health sector.
The funding will support efforts to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease threats, while also strengthening Uganda’s capacity to manage public health emergencies.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Minister Musasizi described the agreement as another “significant milestone” in the longstanding partnership between Uganda and the US.
He said Uganda values the US contribution to the health sector, particularly in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, disease outbreak management, 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,” Minister Musasizi said.
A key change under the new arrangement is the intention by the US government to channel its support directly through the Government of Uganda.
Minister Musasizi welcomed the shift, saying it is in line with Uganda’s objective of strengthening country ownership, aligning external assistance with national priorities and improving the effectiveness and sustainability of development cooperation.
He, however, cautioned that sustained improvements in health outcomes will require increased domestic financing.
“The Government of Uganda acknowledges that sustainable health outcomes require increased domestic financing,” Minister Musasizi said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to progressively increase funding for the agreed interventions over the five-year period.
The partnership will also move beyond disease-specific programmes to strengthen national health systems and institutions, build the capacity of health workers, improve accountability and enhance Uganda’s ability to plan, finance and deliver quality health services.
Cleverley said the agreement goes beyond being a mechanism for cooperation, describing it as a demonstration of US goodwill and confidence in Uganda’s leadership and health sector.
He said the new approach would give Uganda greater leadership in public health through government-to-government financing.
Health Minister 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.
Dr Baryomunsi said Uganda continues to face a significant burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, making continued support necessary.
He cited progress in the health sector, including a decline in HIV prevalence from about 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.
He said the gains demonstrate the impact of investments in the health sector but added that more work is needed to address the country’s remaining health challenges.
