Uganda on track to deploy 21,000 community health workers

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Uganda is on course to deploy 21,000 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) nationwide by 2029 in a push to deliver Universal Health Coverage and strengthen access to healthcare at the community level.

On March 4, 2026, the government passed out the latest 348 newly trained CHEWs in a ceremony held in Mbarara City and Rukungiri District, marking another step in the country’s plan to strengthen primary health care and move towards Universal Health Coverage.

The new graduates bring the total number of trained CHEWs in Uganda to 5,616. The Ministry of Health aims to scale this number up to more than 21,000 by 2029, with the goal of ensuring that every parish in the country has access to a trained community health worker.

Ministry of Health officials said the CHEWs will play a critical role in delivering services at the community level, particularly in disease prevention, early detection, and supporting national health programmes.

In an exclusive interview on March 19, the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, said the workers will focus on prevention and strengthening linkages between communities and health facilities.

“They are well trained and equipped with everything required to bridge the gap between communities and the health system,” he said. “They will support programmes like immunisation and vaccination, and help us deliver universal health coverage. Our target is 21,000 by 2029, and so far, we have deployed more than 5,600.”

"For the malnutrition screen campaigns, this program is going to be fully implemented by CHEWs, and that shows you how we are already ready," he added.

The Ministry of Health said the programme is designed to address long-standing gaps in Uganda’s health system, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to care remains limited.

Speaking at the recent pass-out ceremony, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng described CHEWs as the foundation of a stronger, more resilient health system.

“Most health challenges begin in the community, and many of them can be resolved there. These health workers will help us promote prevention, improve early detection of disease, and link people to care,” she said.

Unlike Village Health Teams (VHTs), who have been operating on a largely voluntary basis since 2001, CHEWs are trained, structured, and expected to provide a wider range of services, including basic treatment, health education, disease surveillance, and referrals.

Each CHEW undergoes six months of competency-based training, costing between $2,100 (shs7.8 million) and $2,200 (shs8.2 million). They are then deployed to serve within their communities, acting as the first point of contact between households and the formal health system.

Since its pilot phase in districts such as Mayuge and Lira, health officials report improvements in immunisation coverage, antenatal care attendance, facility-based deliveries, and early detection of malnutrition. These gains have encouraged the government and its partners to accelerate the rollout.

Currently, CHEWs are deployed in 40 districts, with plans to expand to 30 more by August 2026. The World Health Organisation has pledged continued technical support to help strengthen supervision, monitoring, and integration of the programme into the national health system.

Dr Kasonde Mwinga, the WHO Representative in Uganda, said the initiative is critical for reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes, especially in underserved areas.

“Uganda still faces gaps in the distribution of health workers, and community-level cadres like CHEWs are essential to closing that gap,” she said.

The expansion of the programme is also backed by international support. The United States government recently signed a five-year, $2.3 billion health cooperation agreement with Uganda, which includes funding to support the training of more than 14,000 CHEWs.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony recently, the US Ambassador said the investment reflects a shared commitment to building strong and resilient health systems.

“Health begins in communities. These workers will be the bridge between families and health facilities, helping to prevent disease, respond to outbreaks, and save lives,” the ambassador said.

The focus on community health comes at a time when Uganda’s health system is under increasing pressure. The country faces a high burden of disease, including malaria, respiratory infections, and malnutrition, while many health facilities struggle with staff shortages, limited resources, and growing patient numbers.