The government plans to increase its share of malaria financing from 28 percent to 50 percent by 2030, as the country battles a rise in malaria prevalence and growing uncertainty over external funding.
The commitment is part of the Uganda Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan 2026-2030, which requires about Shs4.2 trillion over five years, with government seeking additional contributions from the private sector and other domestic sources.
The financing drive comes as malaria prevalence among children under five has risen from 10 percent in 2018 to 13 percent in the 2025, according to Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey, reversing some of the gains made in the fight against the disease.
The Minister of Health, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said government will continue to lead national response but called for greater participation by businesses and other non-state actors to mobilise resources.
Speaking during the inauguration of the 2026-2029 board of directors of Malaria Free Uganda (MFU) in Kampala on Friday, Dr Baryomunsi said the country needed broader support to finance malaria elimination.
‘Malaria is not only a health problem; it is an economic problem. …we have committed to raising our own share of malaria financing to half of the total by 2030. But a challenge of this scale cannot be carried by government alone. This board widens the circle of those who carry it,’ Dr Baryomunsi said.
MFU, a Ministry of Health-led public-private partnership platform and Uganda’s End Malaria Council, are expected to mobilise resources from the private sector, communities and other non-state actors to complement government financing.
The push for additional funding follows a shortfall under the previous malaria strategic plan, which required $1.01 billion, but mobilised only $741 million.
Donors provided 62 percent of the funds mobilised under that plan, exposing the country’s malaria response to changes in external financing. The suspension of the US government funding in 2025 further highlighted the risks associated with heavy reliance on external support.
Under the new plan, the End Malaria Council will work with the Ministry of Finance and the National Malaria Elimination Division to mobilise sustainable financing.
MFU stated that households reportedly bear more than 70 percent of these costs, with families in the highest-burden districts spending up to a quarter of their income managing the disease.
Globally, the World Health Organisation estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024, with Africa accounting for about 94 percent of cases and 95 percent of deaths.
The newly inaugurated board, chaired by Mr Kenneth Mugisha, urged members to translate their appointments into practical commitments in curbing the disease.
‘Let us not leave this room with good intentions alone, but with firm commitments to act. Every malaria death is a future stolen, a child’s dreams cut short, a family left grieving, and a loss to our nation. The board will promote long-term corporate partnerships, expand workplace malaria programmes under the national Malaria Smart Companies initiative,’ Mr Mugisha said.
Mr Bernard Feni, the chief executive of Euro Gold Refinery Uganda and a board member, said businesses should participate in malaria elimination rather than leave the responsibility to government and international partners.
‘The purpose is not only to depend on international funding but also on indigenous Ugandans, communities and all social networks to support this initiative.
This is part of our corporate social responsibility and other businesses should contribute,’ he said.
MFU says it has mobilised more than $6.2 million in cash and in-kind contributions over the past five years while engaging more than 100 organisations. Its interventions have supported malaria advocacy, communications, and the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, including the procurement of equipment worth Shs1.32 billion.
In the 2025/2026 financial year alone, contributions reached Shs8.886 billion, according to the organisation.
Dr Denise Njama-Meya of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance said End Malaria Councils were most effective when they were locally led, and the private sector actively participated in the response.
Despite previous progress in reducing malaria deaths, the disease remains a major public health and economic challenge. National malaria incidence currently stands at 274 cases per 1,000 people, above the strategic target of 185 cases per 1,000.