Uganda has nearly doubled its health sector allocation to USh 5.87 trillion in FY 2025/26, aiming to strengthen service delivery, address health worker shortages, and upgrade medical infrastructure.
Uganda has announced a significant increase in its health sector allocation, nearly doubling the budget from USh 2.95 trillion to USh 5.87 trillion (over 1.5 billion USD) for the financial year 2025/26. The new allocation represents 8.1% of the total national budget, up from just over 4% in the previous year. This investment underscores the government’s commitment to improving access to healthcare and safeguarding public health through the Human Capital Development Programme.
The increased funding will support the recruitment of health workers, the construction and upgrading of hospitals, ICUs, and maternal health units, and the procurement of essential medicines. It will also strengthen district-level services through enhanced support for Health Centre IIIs. This move comes as the country faces rising cases of non-communicable diseases, recurring infectious outbreaks, and limited donor support.
While the announcement has been welcomed, health experts caution that the real impact will depend on timely fund disbursement and efficient implementation. Challenges such as rural health workforce shortages and infrastructure gaps persist, and stakeholders have called for greater transparency and accountability to ensure that the funds translate into measurable improvements in health outcomes.
