By Lukanga Samuel
Over the past few years, Uganda’s health sector has witnessed remarkable transformation, both in substance and in reach. From newly built hospitals and health centres, to improved funding, expanded ambulance services, and wider healthcare access in rural constituencies, the country is undeniably on an upward trajectory. These gains must not only be protected, but accelerated beyond 2026.
The conversation about Uganda’s future should not ignore what has already been achieved, especially in an area as critical as public health. For decades, health infrastructure in Uganda lagged behind the demands of a fast-growing population. However, recent years have seen a deliberate push towards addressing these long-standing gaps.
The construction of new health facilities across the country is one of the most tangible signs of progress. Health Centre IIIs and IVs, district hospitals, and regional referral hospitals have been built and upgraded, particularly in previously underserved regions. For the first time, many communities can now access maternal care, surgery, and diagnostics without travelling hundreds of kilometres.
Even more importantly, these facilities are not just buildings—they are functional, staffed, and increasingly equipped with modern tools and medicines. The recruitment of additional medical workers, from nurses to specialists, has been critical to ensuring that these facilities serve their purpose. These steps must be sustained and expanded if Uganda is to meet universal health coverage targets.
Significant increases in health sector funding have made these improvements possible. The national budget has seen consistent allocations toward critical health infrastructure, procurement of medical supplies, and human resource development. The government’s commitment to increasing domestic financing for health not only signals political will but reduces dependency on donor funding—a crucial step for sustainability.
Yet, this progress is still fragile. Any policy reversal or funding cuts after 2026 could roll back hard-won achievements. The public must demand continued investment in health, and policymakers must protect these budgets as a priority.
Perhaps one of the most impactful interventions has been the rollout of ambulances to every constituency. For rural Uganda—where emergency transport was once a matter of improvisation and luck—this has been a literal lifesaver. Ambulances mean mothers can reach facilities for safe delivery, accident victims can receive timely care, and critically ill patients can be referred without delay.
This national ambulance strategy not only saves lives but ensures that health is treated as a right, not a privilege. The challenge now is maintenance, fuel supply, and coordination—none of which are insurmountable if the political will remains strong beyond 2026.
While much of the attention has focused on infrastructure and logistics, there have also been significant strides in systems reform. The digitization of health records, streamlined drug supply chains, and the introduction of mobile health solutions are slowly improving efficiency and accountability in service delivery.
In fighting COVID-19, Uganda showed that with organization and investment, our health system can respond effectively to crises. That same level of preparedness is now being applied to other diseases, from malaria to non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer.
Despite the gains, many challenges remain—drug stockouts, understaffing, and high out-of-pocket expenses for patients, especially in private facilities. But we now have a foundation upon which to build. It would be a tragic error to lose momentum or politicize what should be a national health agenda.
As 2026 approaches, Ugandans must ask every aspiring leader not just what they promise, but what they plan to preserve. Health gains are not abstract—they are visible in every saved mother, every recovered patient, and every child who receives treatment in time.
Uganda has come too far to go back. The journey must continue—with even greater ambition.
The writer is a social development enthusiast and an Ambassador of Humanity.
