The British High Commission in Kampala has announced a Shs4.9 billion (£1 million) contribution to support Uganda’s efforts in combating the ongoing Mpox outbreak.
The funding will be channeled through Baylor College of Medicine and the Infectious Diseases Institute, both working in coordination with the government of Uganda’s Mpox response plan.
The financial support aims to strengthen response coordination, surveillance, and risk communication, as well as community engagement in the affected districts.
“It is critical that we work with the government of Uganda to counter this outbreak,” said Philip Smith, the Acting British High Commissioner to Uganda.
“We are pleased to announce this additional funding, which will be released immediately to support a timely response. The UK will stand with the Government and people of Uganda in tackling this outbreak.”
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng expressed her gratitude for the UK’s ongoing partnership, noting, “Our collaboration with the UK spans several years, and they have always been a key partner in outbreak responses. We appreciate the £1 million contribution through Baylor Uganda and the Infectious Diseases Institute to help us respond efficiently to the Mpox outbreak.”
The support package builds on the UK’s previous assistance to Uganda. In October 2022, the UK contributed £2.2 million (Shs9.3 billion) and provided technical experts to aid Uganda’s response to the Ebola outbreak.
Additionally, between 2018 and 2020, the UK contributed nearly £10 million (Shs40 billion) for Ebola preparedness, significantly improving Uganda’s capacity to respond to health crises.
UK-funded ambulances, donated to the Uganda Red Cross through the World Food Programme, are now being used in the Mpox response.
