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By Goodluck Musinguzi
A Healthier Tomorrow: Uganda’s Transformational Health Journey (2021–2025)
Ministry of Health developed a strategic plan 2021-205 that was derived from Uganda Vision 2040 where the health sector aims at ensuring Uganda has a productive population that effectively contributes to socio-economic growth which will be achieved by provision of accessible and quality health care to all people in Uganda. To effectively implement this plan, Ministry of Health requires a total funding of Shs. 9.146 trillion for the 5 years. The funding sources include Government of Uganda medium term expenditure framework and external financing. The financing cost was estimated based on the budgetary allocations in the Budget Framework Papers of the MoH for the past 3 years and annual projections of 15% annual increments in budgetary allocations in the medium term at an ideal scenario.
In the remote village of Oyam, a mother of three, no longer has to travel 50 kilometers for basic medical care. What was once a modest Health Center II in her community is now a fully functional Health Center III—equipped with maternity wards, outpatient services, and trained health workers. Across the nation, this story has been repeated over 380 times, as Uganda upgraded Health Center IIs to IIIs and another 250 Health Center IIIs to IVs, delivering more comprehensive care to underserved populations.
Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja ,Prime minister of Uganda commissioned 398 health center IIIs across the country , flanked by the ministers for health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and local government Raphael Magyezi at a function that took place at Kikoma health center III in Kyankwanzi district.
“She assured Ugandans of the NRM government commitment to serve the people and take services closer to them. Uganda is making positive strides in health indices as planned. President Yoweri Museveni has prioritised health center IIIs so that more people can be served well”.
Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Program, UGIFT, aims to improve the equity and adequacy of fiscal transfers and enhance local government management of resources for health and education. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The 398 health center III across the country have cost the government of Uganda over 760bn shillings with support from the World Bank.
Covid19 pandemic shook the foundations of healthcare systems across the World, between 2021 and 2025, Uganda embarked on a transformative journey in its health sector—one marked by ambition, resilience, and deep-rooted commitment to saving lives and improving well-being. From rural outposts to urban referral hospitals, the impact of sweeping reforms and targeted interventions is being felt across the country, bringing quality healthcare closer to millions.
Dr Diana Atwine Permanent Secretary while addressing Ugandans she said COVID-19 health system strengthening will reflect a multi-faceted approach focusing on infrastructure improvement, resource accountability, community engagement, and robust outbreak response systems.
“I advocated for a strong resilient health system that focus on prevention and strong secondary/ tertiary care systems, the Global Health Security agenda, local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and bilateral funding from the UK towards key health priorities in Uganda,” Dr. Atwine said.
Alongside other Permanent Secretaries from the Region, Dr Atwine presented Uganda’s health sector priorities and investment opportunities that are contained in the current Health Sector Development Plan (2020/2021-2024/2025) as she mobilised for UK led global health partnerships to work with the Ministry of Health in achieving these priorities.
Expected outcomes are; strengthened health sector governance, management and coordination for UHC; strengthened human resources for health management and development; increased access to nationally coordinated services for communicable and non-communicable disease / conditions prevention and control; strengthened disease surveillance, disaster response and epidemic control at national and sub-national levels; increased availability of quality and safe medicines, vaccines and technologies; improved functionality and adequacy of health infrastructure and logistics; and increased health research, innovation and technology development.
Specialized care, once a luxury reserved for Kampala, is now within reach in Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Mubende,Moroto,Hoima,Fortportal,Mbarara and others, thanks to the establishment of regional cancer centers. Meanwhile, the Entebbe Children’s Surgical Hospital, opened in April 2021, is transforming lives by offering free, high-quality pediatric surgeries, bringing hope to families once overwhelmed by the cost of care.
In Naguru, construction of the new Uganda Heart Institute is well underway. Once complete, it will perform up to 5,000 heart surgeries annually, drastically reducing the need for expensive treatments abroad and long waiting times.
Uganda’s vigilance against disease has been commendable. Over 12 million citizens rolled up their sleeves for yellow fever vaccinations in a nationwide campaign aligned with global eradication goals. Cervical cancer, a silent killer among Ugandan women, met a powerful opponent in the HPV vaccination drive, which exceeded 150% uptake for the first dose—a clear sign of increasing public trust and awareness.
When an Ebola outbreak emerged in 2022, Uganda moved swiftly, initiating a clinical trial for a vaccine against the Sudan strain. The trial marked a turning point in epidemic preparedness, symbolizing Uganda’s growing capacity to be both a regional leader and a research partner.
In health facilities across Uganda, a quiet revolution took place in the background. Thanks to new electronic logistics systems introduced in 1,462 facilities, the chronic issue of medicine stockouts began to decline. For the first time, nurses like James Mubiru in Mbale could confidently tell patients, “Yes, the medicine is available.” Backed by a comprehensive 10-year supply chain roadmap, Uganda also boosted its health commodity budget by 73%, ensuring that medical supplies reached those who needed them most.
Few indicators speak louder about a nation’s health progress than maternal and child outcomes—and Uganda made heartening gains. The maternal mortality rate dropped to 189 per 100,000 live births, one of the lowest in recent history. Over 170 upgraded Health Center IVs now offer cesarean sections, ensuring that complications during childbirth no longer equate to tragedy.
In a touching example of community compassion, the ATTA Breastmilk Community initiative delivered donated breast milk to over 450 infants, helping the most vulnerable newborns survive and thrive when their mothers could not nurse.
With the launch of its second National Action Plan for Health Security in 2024, Uganda signaled its readiness to confront public health emergencies head-on. Twelve Regional Emergency Operations Centres now act as nerve centers for quick responses to outbreaks, disasters, and other crises.
While many Ugandans still pay out-of-pocket for care, the tide is turning. In 11 districts, Save for Health Uganda’s community health financing schemes are cushioning families from catastrophic health expenditures. In a pioneering move, Luwero District Council passed legislation in 2023 to pilot a local health insurance scheme—an important step toward a nationwide coverage system.
Uganda also turned its focus to the slow-burning threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Through expanded cervical cancer screening and awareness campaigns promoting fitness and healthy eating, the country began reshaping its public health narrative. HPV testing sites, once scarce, grew from just 16 to 62 in a single year—signaling a determined fight against cancers and other chronic illnesses.
The story of Uganda’s health sector from 2021 to 2025 is one of determination, investment, and above all—people. Behind each data point is a mother whose childbirth was safe, a child who beat cancer, or a family spared from the burden of medical debt.
As Uganda looks to the future, continued investment, policy innovation, and strong public engagement will be vital. The foundation has been laid for a healthier, more resilient nation—and the journey is only just beginning.
The health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng says that government is now left with a few sub counties without health center III and the coverage is at 76%.However Aceng says that the facilities need to be connected with water and electricity for better service delivery.
Rogers Ayiku, who represented the World Bank country director says that Uganda is progressing well in health service delivery.Local leaders hailed government for the health facilities constructed.
