KAMPALA, 3rd November 2026 – The United States Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Uganda’s health sector through closer collaboration with local governments, with a focus on improving access, efficiency and accountability in the delivery of health services, particularly in rural communities.
The commitment was highlighted this morning during a meeting between the United States Ambassador to Uganda, H.E William W. Popp and the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi, at the Minister’s office in Kampala. The meeting explored opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the two governments in improving health service delivery at the local government level.
The United States Ambassador noted that in December 2025, the two countries signed a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at establishing a closer working relationship with the Government of Uganda, extending cooperation beyond central government ministries to include local governments.
“Working with local governments is key in ensuring that health services reach those in need with the greatest impact and greatest accountability,” the Ambassador noted.
He explained that the new cooperation framework represents an integrated approach to supporting Uganda’s health sector, with a first-year programme estimated at approximately USD 410 million, a substantial portion of which will support healthcare needs in rural Uganda.
The priority areas of cooperation will include the fight against HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, polio and malaria, as well as global health security, maternal and child health.
The Ambassador stressed that the interventions would be implemented through an integrated approach, bringing together different health priorities rather than addressing them independently. This, he said, is intended to improve efficiency, coordination and the overall impact of health investments.
He further explained that the vision of the new Memorandum of Understanding is to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Uganda to independently and effectively deliver health services through partnership, coordination and stronger government systems, rather than establishing parallel implementation structures.
He observed that health service delivery below the referral hospital level falls largely under the mandate of local governments, making their involvement essential to the success of the cooperation framework.
Hon. Barugahara welcomed the discussions, describing the partnership as an important opportunity to strengthen Uganda–United States relations and expand investment and cooperation in the delivery of services within local governments.
The Minister particularly welcomed the United States’ commitment to supporting stronger and more self-reliant local governments, noting the importance of empowering local authorities to effectively execute their mandates and improve service delivery to communities.
He emphasised the need for continued collaboration between the Ministry of Local Government, development partners and other government institutions to ensure that resources and interventions translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Ugandans.
“We are proud to associate with you, and we are always your dependable partner,” Hon. Balaam said.
The engagement underscores the importance of decentralised governance in delivering essential public services and reinforces the role of local governments as key partners in implementing national development priorities.
Through strengthened cooperation, the Government of Uganda and the United States seek to enhance health systems, improve accountability and ensure that communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, benefit from accessible and quality healthcare services.
