Uganda, US Sign 1.7 Billion Dollar Health Agreement

The government of Uganda and the United States of America signed a Strategic Objective Agreement (SOAG) on Thursday, offering Uganda 1.7 billion dollars to finance the health sector for the period 2026 to 2030.

This agreement, which puts into action the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 10th December 2025, where the United States Government committed to provide the money amounting to Shillings 6.42 trillion for prevention, detection, and response to both emerging and existing infectious disease threats, allows the US to channel support directly to the government of Uganda.

This is yet previously, the United States has been offering the biggest chunk of its financial aid through non-governmental organizations, private charities, and local community groups, and not the central government.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi welcomed the shift, saying it is 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 described the agreement as “another significant milestone” in the longstanding partnership between Uganda and the United States, where the country has provided aid in several disease areas including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in addition to managing emerging and re-emerging diseases such as the hemorrhagic fevers.

“These interventions have saved lives, strengthened communities and enhanced Uganda’s capacity to respond to public-health emergencies,” Musasizi said.  

According to a statement by the Ministry of Finance, the new partnership will go beyond disease-specific interventions to strengthen national systems and institutions, improve workforce capacity, reinforce accountability and enhance Uganda’s ability to plan, finance and deliver quality health services.  

The Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy, Mikael Cleverley, said the agreement represents more than a mechanism for partnership, adding that it’s a demonstration of US goodwill and confidence in the Government of Uganda 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 change from predominantly off-budget assistance towards government-to-government financing and called for more support, saying  Uganda continues to face a significant burden of both communicable & non-communicable diseases.

Baryomunsi cited progress registered in the health sector, such as a decline in HIV prevalence from 18.5% in the late 1980s and early 1990s to 5.9% and the increase in life expectancy from about 43 years to 68 years, among other indicators.