tHE United States government has handed over an advanced package of medical technology and protective gear to aid in the battle against tuberculosis (TB) and other infectious diseases.
The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry of Health headquarters, where U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp and USAID Uganda Mission Director Daniele Nyirandutiye officially transferred the equipment to Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
At the center of the donation are 48 high-tech digital mobile X-ray machines, each embedded with computer-aided detection software.
Provided under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) TB Acceleration Plan and USAID, these machines are designed to improve TB screening precision, reduce operational costs, and expand access to remote and underserved regions.
The equipment, valued at over $5 million (approximately 18 billion), is expected to screen over half a million patients across more than 60 districts within a year.
“Our efforts have been successful in helping Uganda close in on the goal of ending TB by 2030,” said Nyirandutiye during the event.
“They have resulted in nearly 100% treatment coverage and a 92% success rate. Remarkably, Uganda is one of only five countries in the world to reduce TB mortality by over 50% since 2015, far exceeding the 35% global target.”
Recognizing the intersection between public health and global mobility, the United States also unveiled plans to enhance Uganda’s border health surveillance.
Two thermal scanners will be installed at Entebbe International Airport to identify potential health threats early and enable swift intervention at the country’s busiest entry point.
Complementing the diagnostic equipment and surveillance tools, the U.S. government further provided over 120,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE).
This protective gear, worth more than $950,000 (about shs3.5 billion), is aimed at safeguarding frontline health workers and strengthening the country’s overall disease surveillance system.
“We continue to work together to provide life-saving and humanitarian services, including critical medicines and supplies and support for ending HIV, TB, malaria and improving maternal child health,” said Ambassador Popp. “These efforts to prevent, detect, and contain infectious diseases make the United States, Uganda, and the world safer and healthier.”
The minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, thanked the US government noting that the Mobile X-LAMP will revolutionize community screening.
“The innovative “Mobile X-LAMP” (portable digital X-ray + CAD & TB-LAMP) will revolutionize community screening. We are grateful to the US Government,” she said.
Aceng noted that through mobile X-ray services, Uganda’s diagnostic capacity cor TB and other diseases will expand.
“This will expand Uganda’s diagnostic capacity for TB and other diseases through mobile digital X-ray services. With nearly 500 WHO-recommended TB diagnostic platforms deployed nationwide, we’re strengthening early detection and treatment. With 68 districts now equipped with mobile digital X-ray services, we can ensure early TB diagnosis, treatment abd prevention. Early detection saves lives,” she added.
