Uganda welcomes new US health strategy — minister Aceng

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Uganda has welcomed the newly launched America First Global Health Strategy, which is seen as an opportunity to strengthen national health systems while reducing long-term dependency on foreign aid.

Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the government appreciates Washington’s new approach, particularly its emphasis on capacity development, essential health commodities, laboratory systems, disease surveillance and data management.

“The Ugandan government welcomes the new American health strategy and is pleased with the emphasis on contributing to the independence of our health systems, focusing on capacity development, commodities, laboratories, surveillance and data systems,” Dr Aceng posted on her X handle.

Aceng also commended US President Donald Trump for continuing the legacy of America’s health foreign assistance.

What the new strategy means

According to the US State Department, the America First Global Health Strategy seeks to move away from what officials describe as inefficient and wasteful models of international health aid. The new approach will prioritise bilateral agreements with enforceable terms rather than heavily relying on multilateral arrangements.

The plan highlights three main goals: containing infectious disease outbreaks before they reach the United States, strengthening bilateral partnerships that protect American security interests, and promoting American health innovation globally.

“Health assistance is humanitarian in nature, but it’s also a strategic investment. Every dollar that we spend on foreign assistance must consistently align with the national interest,” a senior State Department official said in a statement.

The Trump administration is proposing a gradual shift in how health programmes are funded. While Washington will continue covering 100% of frontline healthcare costs, including salaries of health workers, through the current fiscal year, future agreements will require recipient countries to shoulder more of the financial burden.

From next year, the percentage of costs borne by the US versus partner nations will be renegotiated on a country-by-country basis, meaning some bilateral agreements may also include third-country allies to reduce duplication of aid efforts.

A central aim of the strategy, according to US officials, is to encourage “long-term country ownership” of public health programmes. This marks a significant departure from longstanding assistance models such as PEPFAR, the landmark US initiative against HIV/AIDS, whose funding has already seen cuts.

Funding shifts and priorities

The United States spent around $10 billion on global health in 2024. However, President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal reduces that figure to about $4 billion, a sharp cut that could significantly affect Africa, where PEPFAR and other programmes have long played a crucial role.

The new plan will also alter the regional allocation of health aid, with investments being redirected towards areas considered most strategically relevant to American interests.

While this could mean reduced funding for some African countries, Washington insists that stronger surveillance systems and self-reliant health structures will ultimately benefit both the US and partner nations.

“We have a broader set of foreign assistance and also diplomatic benefits that we can provide as part of these new agreements. But countries must be properly incentivised to assume responsibility for their national healthcare systems,” the statement said.

Uganda’s position

For Uganda, which has long relied on American programmes such as PEPFAR and USAID support for malaria and maternal health, the new strategy presents both opportunities and challenges.

During the 90-day US funding freeze, Ministry of Health officials noted that Uganda will always be ready to care for its people with or without foreign aid, and that no one will die.

The America First Global Health Strategy is expected to be a key talking point at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this week, with negotiations for country-level agreements set to begin early next year.