Uganda's AI framework to transform health supply chains in humanitarian settings

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Uganda has taken a big step toward transforming healthcare delivery in crisis-affected regions by unveiling Africa’s first offline-capable Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework for health supply chain optimisation. 

The innovation, developed by the International Foundation for Recovery and Development (IFRAD) in collaboration with the health ministry and Kyambogo University, is designed to ensure that essential medicines and therapeutic supplies reach even the most remote and low-connectivity areas across the country.

The Wednesday, November 12, 2025, validation workshop held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, brought together senior government officials, UN agencies, academic institutions and humanitarian organisations. 

Speaking at the workshop, health ministry assistant commissioner in the nutrition division, Dr Samalie Namusoke, commended the initiative as “a timely solution” to one of Uganda’s persistent health challenges, stockouts of medicines in remote facilities.

“As the Ministry of Health, we embrace innovations that emerge, and artificial intelligence is one of those that is really forthcoming. AI can help us address challenges within the health system by providing accurate data that informs decisions and drives policies that stand the test of time," Namusoke said.

She explained that many health facilities in rural and refugee-hosting areas still struggle with unreliable internet connectivity, which limits their ability to use national digital systems.

"The new framework’s offline-first architecture allows data processing and decision-making even without an internet connection, an innovation she said will “help health workers make informed choices and request medicines promptly."

According to the principal investigator at IFRAD, Gideon Apako, the initiative began in June 2024 with baseline research in Karamoja and Southwestern Uganda. The goal, he said, was to understand why frequent drug shortages persist in rural facilities and to find an AI-driven, evidence-based solution.

Building on what government has

The new framework does not replace existing national health systems such as eLMIS, eAFYA, DHIS2, and CSSP, but instead creates an integration layer that strengthens them. By adding predictive analytics and offline capabilities, the framework ensures that Uganda’s digital health investments work even in areas where internet coverage is low.

“We are not developing a new system. We are building on what the government already has, complementing it with artificial intelligence to ensure that medicines and therapeutic foods reach the people who need them, especially in refugee and crisis-affected communities,” Abako said.

He revealed that the framework development is currently 20 per cent complete, having cost over $100,000 (about shillings 360 million) so far. The team plans to develop the remaining modules by 2026, subject to additional funding.

Apako said these features were informed by field consultations with health workers in Karamoja and refugee-hosting districts. 

"Health workers told us they need systems that work in real life where electricity and internet are unreliable. We designed this framework with those realities in mind,” he added.

For regions like Karamoja, where some mothers walk hours only to find health facilities out of stock, the framework promises to be life-changing. By enabling predictive ordering and redistribution alerts, the system ensures that no child goes untreated due to medicine shortages.

He further explained that the system is built on a three-tier model data is collected at the facility level, transmitted to the District Health Office (DHO) when the Internet is available, and then shared with the Ministry of Health for national co-ordination.

“Even with minimal internet, like 50MB of mobile data, health workers can update the system using their phones,” he added.

Uganda’s offline-first AI approach has attracted regional attention as a model for low-connectivity humanitarian settings across East Africa. The framework demonstrates how AI can enhance efficiency and transparency in supply chain management without requiring costly infrastructure transformation.

“This framework shows that innovation doesn’t always mean replacing the system; it means strengthening what already exists. With further support, we can make Uganda the first country in Africa with an AI-driven, offline-ready national supply chain management framework,” Apako said.

Samalie reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with innovators and academia to ensure AI becomes a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.