By KT Reporter
The Ministry of Health has officially taken over national digital health systems and assets from Makerere University School of Public Health, marking a major milestone in strengthening Uganda’s health sector. The handover ceremony, held on March 31, 2026, at the Ministry’s headquarters, was facilitated through the MakSPH Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (MakSPH-METS) Program.
The transition brings to a close 15 years of investment worth US$103.8 million by the United States government through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and PEPFAR. Since its establishment in 2010, the program has played a key role in addressing gaps within Uganda’s health system, particularly fragmented data systems, limited coordination, and weak use of digital tools in decision-making.
Over the years, the initiative has significantly improved the accessibility, timeliness, and reliability of health data, enabling better decision-making across the health sector. Disease surveillance has expanded to more than 1,300 health facilities implementing case-based surveillance, while reporting rates have increased from 58 percent in 2020 to 98 percent in 2025. In addition, electronic medical record coverage has grown to over 86 percent nationwide.
The handover included critical infrastructure such as 725 servers, more than 4,700 computing devices, solar power systems for nearly 800 health facilities, and connectivity equipment for over 1,300 sites. Other assets included video conferencing systems and upgraded regional referral hospital networks, alongside skilled personnel to support operations. All assets have now been fully transitioned to government ownership, strengthening national capacity to manage and sustain the systems.
Speaking at the event, Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health and Principal Investigator of the program, said the milestone goes beyond the transfer of assets. She noted that the systems have been co-created, embedded within national structures, and are now fully owned by the government.
The ceremony was officiated by William W. Popp and Diana Atwine, alongside senior officials from government and partner institutions.
A total of 16 digital health systems were transitioned, including platforms supporting electronic medical records, HIV case-based surveillance, disease outbreak tracking, stock monitoring for essential health commodities, viral load and early infant diagnosis reporting, quality improvement monitoring, and health worker support systems.
The handover marks a significant step toward a more connected, resilient, and data-driven health system in Uganda, with the government now fully in charge of sustaining and expanding these digital health innovations.
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