The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has pledged Shs 14.4 billion to support Uganda in strengthening its response to the Mpox and Ebola outbreaks.
This financial support is part of a broader initiative under the IGAD Regional Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE) Project, aimed at bolstering surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce development, and coordination mechanisms in Uganda.
The funding is part of the USD 8.3 million (approximately Shs 31 billion) allocated to IGAD member states, particularly those severely impacted by Mpox outbreaks.
The support is designed to enhance these countries’ capacity to manage both current and future outbreaks, safeguarding public health and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases.
The announcement followed a meeting between IGAD officials and Uganda’s Ministry of Health, including Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health.
The IGAD delegation was led by Mr. Mubarak Mabuya, IGAD’s Chief of Staff, and Dr. Fatuma Adan, Head of the IGAD PREPARE Project. Discussions focused on Uganda’s national gaps in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce training, and intergovernmental coordination, identifying areas where the project could provide targeted support.
The IGAD PREPARE Project, funded by the Pandemic Fund of the World Bank through the World Health Organization (WHO), is specifically addressing the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Uganda.
The initiative aims to curb the spread of the disease and prevent fatalities, protecting both Ugandan citizens and the broader regional population, who are interconnected through trade and cross-border movements.
The rising cases of Ebola in Uganda have also prompted the project to extend its support to tackling this outbreak, which poses a further threat to public health in Uganda and neighbouring countries.
This financial commitment follows recommendations made during the IGAD PREPARE Project Steering Committee meeting on February 5, 2025.
The meeting emphasised the need to ensure that resources are efficiently channeled through Uganda’s existing government systems.
The funds will be directed toward strengthening national emergency response frameworks, including National Emergency Coordination Task forces and Committees.
IGAD officials, in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, have also engaged with key project partners, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Uganda Red Cross Society, and the WHO, to finalize a Comprehensive Response Plan.
This plan will be tailored to Uganda’s specific pandemic response priorities, ensuring the timely and effective allocation of resources to combat the current outbreaks.
Beyond immediate response measures, the IGAD team also held discussions with Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Water and Environment, and Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities.
These discussions focused on fostering cross-ministerial and regional collaboration for sustainable pandemic preparedness. Emphasising the One Health approach, the initiative integrates human, animal, and environmental health to enhance regional health security.
