The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, has revealed that the Ministry of Health is preparing a Cabinet memorandum seeking guidance from the Executive on sourcing funds to bridge the gap caused by the withdrawal of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding.
While addressing the House during the Prime Minister’s Time on Thursday, March 6, 2025, Nabbanja stated that the government is also engaging international and local stakeholders to mobilize resources and ensure the continuity of HIV/AIDS interventions.
“To address this crisis, an additional UGX 480 billion is required to bridge the funding gap and sustain essential services,” Nabbanja said.
She made this statement in response to concerns raised by Hon. Abdulhu Byakatonda (Indep., Workers Representative), who inquired about the government’s plans to mitigate the impact of the US funding freeze and ensure uninterrupted HIV treatment.
Byakatonda noted that the aid freeze has placed the jobs of 12,551 community health workers in Uganda at risk.
“Uganda currently allocates only 6.5 per cent of the national budget to health. When will the government fulfill its Abuja Declaration commitment to increase health funding to 15 per cent?” he asked.
On January 20, 2025, the US issued a memorandum pausing potentially trillions of dollars in federal aid that was being offered by USAID.
In another development, the Prime Minister revealed that over UGX 163 billion has been released to cater for capitation grants to government grant-aided schools for the first term of the 2025 academic year.
This followed concerns raised by Kalungu West MP, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu, regarding delays by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in releasing funds needed for procuring instructional materials.
The Prime Minister clarified that capitation grant funds are released during quarter one, quarter three, and quarter four of every financial year.
“The total approved budget for the capitation grant for the financial year 2024/2025 is UGX 490.2 billion. During quarter one, the Ministry of Finance released UGX 163.4 billion to local governments to cater for term three in 2024,” Nabbanja explained.
She further noted that the Ministry of Education and Sports initially instructed local governments to halt the transfer of these funds to institutions until enrollments were validated. She confirmed that the validation process had been completed, and authority to transfer funds to schools had been granted.
She further noted that the Ministry of Education and Sports initially instructed local governments to halt the transfer of these funds to institutions until enrollments were validated.
Source:Wallnet News
