ganda has suffered a major blow to its healthcare financing following a sweeping U.S. executive order signed by President Donald Trump that slashed foreign aid worldwide.

The order, which took effect on January 20, 2025, led to the withdrawal of over Shs 604 billion in support to Uganda, drastically affecting key health programs across the country.

According to Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng, the cuts have severely impacted funding for crucial services such as HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria control, tuberculosis management, and health worker support.

“The decision by the U.S. Government to cut foreign aid across the world resulted in Uganda losing funding worth Shs 604 billion for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, nutrition services, and payment of salaries,” Dr. Aceng told Parliament’s Health Committee on Friday during discussions on the 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement.

The breakdown of lost funding includes:
• HIV/AIDS programs: Shs 243.2bn
• Malaria control programs: Shs 121bn
•. Human resource support for health: Shs 67.8bn
• TB program: Shs 60.2bn
• Health information systems: Shs 36.9bn
• Health care waste management: Shs 22.2bn

As of September 2022, over 1.3 million individuals in Uganda were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the support of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

This figure represents a significant increase from the approximately 26,000 individuals on ART in 2004.

Malaria also remains a significant public health challenge in Uganda.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has one of the highest malaria incidence rates globally, with 478 cases per 1,000 population annually.

Regarding mortality, estimates of annual malaria deaths in Uganda vary. The WHO reported approximately 17,556 malaria-related deaths in 2022.

In response to the funding vacuum, Dr. Aceng noted that the Ministry of Health has begun integrating the affected services into routine healthcare services at existing health facilities.

A cabinet paper has also been prepared for further discussion and strategic response.

Dr. Aceng appealed to Parliament to urgently mobilize domestic resources to bridge the gap left by the U.S. cuts.

“We call upon Parliament to ensure that Uganda’s health sector becomes self-reliant and ends its overdependence on foreign aid,” she emphasized.

The Ministry’s appeal highlights the urgent need for sustainable, homegrown financing mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted delivery of life-saving health services.