May 8, 2026
Uganda Signs Massive Ksh297 billion US Health Deal

Uganda Signs Massive Ksh297 billion US Health Deal

Uganda has reached a significant health agreement with the United States, just days after Kenya signed a similar arrangement.

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the Ugandan government signed a five-year health cooperation pact with the United States valued at Ksh297 billion ($2.3 billion).

This comes only a week after Kenya signed a Ksh207 billion ($1.6 billion) agreement on December 4, 2025.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the United States intends to give up to Ksh220 billion ($1.7 billion), while Uganda pledges to increase domestic health spending by more than Ksh64 billion ($500 million).

The monies will go towards HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, maternity and child health, polio eradication, disease surveillance, and disaster preparedness.

William W. Popp, the US Ambassador to Uganda, characterized the pact as a step toward self-sufficiency.

“This agreement represents a significant commitment by the United States and Uganda to co-invest in our shared global health priorities,” Ambassador Popp stated at the signing ceremony with Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.

The agreement also includes support for faith-based healthcare providers and emphasizes bringing healthcare workers onto Uganda’s government payroll.

Uganda’s Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija, recognized the partnership’s significance.

“This collaboration will yield not only disease-specific outcomes but also significant improvements in national systems, institutions, and workforce capacity,” Minister Kasaija said.

The deal requires Uganda to gradually take over the purchase of medical consumables, which is now handled by the US government.

It also makes significant investments in data technologies and electronic medical records to improve disease surveillance capacities.

ALSO READ:

However, Kenya’s comparable agreement has stirred debate over data sharing issues, with the High Court postponing implementation on Thursday, December 11, 2025, following a legal challenge by the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek).

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, Susan Burns, clarified that only aggregate statistical data, not private patient information, will be shared.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described these bilateral agreements as part of the Trump Administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy” aimed at reducing dependency on U.S. foreign assistance.

The U.S. remains Uganda’s most significant global health partner, having collaborated in the health sector for over 60 years.

Uganda Signs Massive Ksh297 billion US Health Deal

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *