Uganda has inked a significant five-year, $2.3 billion bilateral health cooperation agreement with the United States, becoming the latest African nation to align with the Trump administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy.”
The deal, signed on December 10, 2025, closely follows a similar agreement reached with Kenya just days prior, underscoring a broader shift in U.S. foreign aid policy towards promoting self-reliance in global health initiatives across the continent.
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the United States will provide up to $1.7 billion in funding for Uganda’s health sector over the next five years. In a reciprocal commitment, the Ugandan government has pledged to increase its own health expenditure by over $500 million during the same period, aiming to gradually assume greater financial responsibility for its health systems.
The funds are set for critical health programs, including the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio eradication. The agreement also emphasizes strengthening national systems, institutions, workforce capacity, and investing in disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.
U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, William W. Popp, highlighted the shift towards self-reliance, stating, “This agreement represents a significant commitment by the United States and Uganda to co-invest in our shared global health priorities.”
Uganda’s Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija, acknowledged the partnership’s importance, noting, “This collaboration will yield not only disease-specific outcomes but also significant improvements in national systems, institutions, and workforce capacity.” The deal also includes provisions for supporting faith-based healthcare providers and transitioning health workers to Uganda’s government payroll.
This agreement is part of a series of rapid bilateral health deals being pursued by the U.S. State Department, which has also recently signed pacts with Kenya, Rwanda, and Liberia.
While these agreements aim to strengthen health systems and promote self-sufficiency, some civil society organizations have raised concerns regarding the rushed timeline and limited public consultation, particularly concerning data sharing.
Kenya’s similar deal, signed on December 4, 2025, has already faced legal challenges over data privacy concerns, leading to a temporary suspension of its data transfer component by the High Court.
