Health 26 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Government Pledges Increased Funding to Combat Malaria
Uganda has committed to raising domestic malaria financing to 50 percent by 2030 under a new strategic plan that requires approximately Shs4.2 trillion. The push comes amid rising malaria prevalence and increasing uncertainties surrounding external donor funding. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-pledges-to-increase-funding-for-anti-malaria-fight-5647034
The Ugandan government has announced plans to significantly scale up domestic financing for the fight against malaria, aiming to increase its funding share from 28 percent to 50 percent by the year 2030. This financial commitment forms a central pillar of the Uganda Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which requires an estimated Shs4.2 trillion over the five-year period.
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi revealed the commitment during the inauguration of the new board of directors for Malaria Free Uganda (MFU) in Kampala. He emphasized that tackling the disease requires broad-based participation beyond the public sector, noting that malaria remains both a severe health crisis and an economic burden.
The strategic shift toward domestic resource mobilization follows funding shortfalls under the previous plan, which mobilized only $741 million out of a targeted $1.01 billion. Historically, foreign donors provided the majority of these funds. However, shifting international aid landscapes and funding suspensions have exposed vulnerabilities in relying heavily on external support. Data from the Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey shows that malaria prevalence among children under five rose from 10 percent in 2018 to 13 percent in 2025, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable local solutions.
To bridge the funding gap, MFU and Uganda’s End Malaria Council are tasked with rallying the private sector, local communities, and non-state actors. Households currently shoulder a heavy burden, with families in high-burden districts spending up to a quarter of their income managing the disease.
Newly inaugurated MFU board chair Kenneth Mugisha urged corporate partners to translate good intentions into action by expanding workplace malaria programs and fostering long-term partnerships. Business leaders, including Euro Gold Refinery Uganda CEO Bernard Feni, echoed the call, stressing that corporate social responsibility must include active participation in public health initiatives.
Read more details about the funding pledge in the Daily Monitor report.