US pledges deeper health, investment ties with Uganda

What the report says

The United States says it wants to expand cooperation with Uganda across health, trade, technology, energy and security, with the US Embassy’s top representative in Kampala describing bilateral ties as the strongest they have been. According to The Observer, Mikael Cleverley, the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, said Washington is encouraging broader engagement and more American investment in Uganda, while Ugandan officials have shown openness to deeper collaboration.

Cleverley made the comments on September 24 at an embassy event marking 250 years of US independence. He said a key focus is commercial diplomacy, along with health and security cooperation. He also pointed to a new five-year Uganda-US health memorandum worth $2.3 billion, under which the US would provide $1.7 billion and Uganda would cover the rest. The arrangement is meant to move away from a traditional donor model by giving Ugandan institutions more leadership and linking assistance more closely to results.

The health framework is expected to combine programmes that have often been managed separately, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and broader health security work. A joint steering committee co-led by Cleverley and Uganda’s health minister will guide the effort. The embassy said the aim is to strengthen Uganda’s health institutions while improving outcomes.

Cleverley also said US firms are showing more interest in Uganda, citing areas such as internet connectivity, transport, minerals and energy. He added that embassy officials are working with Ugandan ministries and diplomatic missions to promote trade and investment. He also addressed US travel restrictions linked to Ebola concerns, saying the rules are reviewed in Washington and that the embassy wants normal travel restored as soon as possible.