Parliament has approved additional funding aimed at addressing critical staffing shortages and improving service delivery within Uganda’s public health system, signalling a renewed policy focus on strengthening healthcare capacity.

The allocation of UGX132.6 billion will facilitate the recruitment of 16,963 health workers across various levels of care, including national and regional referral hospitals, general hospitals and lower-level health facilities. The move is expected to gradually ease the longstanding human resource deficit that has constrained healthcare access and efficiency nationwide.

Uganda’s health sector has for years operated with significant staffing gaps, with a large proportion of approved positions remaining unfilled. This shortage has been linked to limited wage funding, delayed recruitment processes and challenges in attracting specialised medical personnel, all of which have continued to strain service delivery, especially in high-demand public facilities.

The newly approved recruitment drive is projected to incrementally raise staffing levels and enhance operational capacity in health institutions, particularly in primary healthcare and referral services where patient loads remain high. Policymakers view the intervention as a necessary step toward improving patient care, reducing workload pressure on existing staff and strengthening the overall responsiveness of the health system.

Beyond recruitment, Parliament also sanctioned additional financial support to address structural and operational gaps within the sector. Funding has been earmarked for health facilities that were elevated to higher status without matching budget adjustments, a gap that has affected their ability to operate effectively.

Further investments will support the procurement of road and boat ambulances to improve emergency response, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas where access to timely medical services remains limited. Additional resources have also been allocated for the installation of ultrasound machines in Health Centre IV facilities, a move expected to enhance diagnostic capacity at the primary care level.

In a notable development for specialised healthcare, funds were also approved to operationalise organ transplant services and strengthen the institutional framework for organ donation and transplant coordination. This reflects a broader shift toward expanding advanced medical services within the country’s public health system.

The funding approvals come amid growing public and legislative pressure to address persistent gaps in staffing, equipment and infrastructure that continue to affect healthcare outcomes. Analysts note that while recruitment alone may not fully resolve systemic challenges, sustained investment in human resources, equipment and institutional capacity will be critical in improving healthcare delivery and building a more resilient health system.

Overall, the latest budgetary decisions underscore government’s intention to prioritise healthcare strengthening, with a strategic emphasis on workforce expansion, emergency preparedness and specialised medical services as key pillars for improving national health outcomes.