Health 3 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
US commits $1.7 billion to Uganda's health sector in new budget support deal
The United States and Uganda have signed a five-year Strategic Objective Agreement (SOAG) totaling $1.7 billion, shifting US health funding towards direct budget support for the Ugandan government. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/us-shifts-to-direct-budget-support-in-new-1-7b-health-agreement-with-uganda-5582800
Uganda’s health sector is set to receive a significant boost with a new $1.7 billion agreement signed between the Government of Uganda and the United States. This five-year Strategic Objective Agreement (SOAG), covering the period from 2026 to 2030, marks a pivotal shift in how US aid will be delivered.
Historically, US health funding in Uganda has focused on specific disease interventions. However, this new agreement signals a move towards strengthening the country’s overall health systems, enhancing workforce capacity, and improving national planning and financing mechanisms. A key aspect of this transition is the US government’s commitment to channel a greater proportion of funds directly through Ugandan government systems as budget support.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi expressed gratitude for the sustained US investment, acknowledging its past vital role in combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as bolstering public health surveillance and supply chains. He emphasized that the new approach will foster greater local ownership, transparency, and long-term sustainability of development funding.
To ensure accountability, a Joint Health Steering Committee (JHSC) will be established to oversee resource allocation and implementation. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Mikaele Cleverley described the agreement as a demonstration of goodwill and confidence in the Ugandan government, highlighting it as an evolution in bilateral aid delivery that empowers Uganda to lead its own public health agenda.
Minister of Health Dr. Chris Baryomunsi commended the policy shift, noting that direct funding through the Ministry of Finance will streamline operations. He pointed to significant progress made in the past, such as a substantial drop in HIV prevalence and an increase in national life expectancy, attributing these gains in part to previous US partnerships. Dr. Baryomunsi pledged transparency in the use of the new funds to further reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve the quality of life for all Ugandans.