Uganda is co-hosting a three-day high-level meeting aimed at advancing health sovereignty across Africa, bringing together Ministries of Health and Finance from eight countries to chart a path toward self-reliant and sustainable health systems.
The inaugural Community of Practice on Health Sovereignty, running from March 23–25 at Kampala Serena Hotel, is organized in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and supported by Georgetown University.
The convening comes at a time when many African countries are grappling with shifting global health financing, prompting renewed focus on domestic resource mobilization and country-led health solutions.
In her opening remarks, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, underscored the intentional nature of the gathering and the urgency of rethinking health systems.
“We are not here by chance, we are here by design,” Dr Atwine said, emphasizing that health services must be treated as both a socioeconomic driver and a necessity for national transformation.
She called for a shift away from fragmented approaches toward more coordinated, efficient systems that deliver value for money while strengthening resilience against external funding shocks.
Participants from Senegal, Kenya, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa are expected to collaborate on practical, country-driven strategies, including scaling up domestic financing, pooled procurement of medical supplies, and strengthening local manufacturing.
Linton Mchunu, Advisor to the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, described the platform as an opportunity for countries to develop shared solutions to common challenges.
“The cost of inaction is always higher than action,” he noted.
Deus Bazira, Director at the Georgetown University Global Health Institute, cautioned against compromising quality in the push for progress.
“We should not compromise competence just to get something done,” he said.
Uganda is using the platform to advocate for deeper regional collaboration, encouraging countries to leverage each other’s strengths in health production and procurement.
Delegates are expected to outline actionable steps toward building resilient, country-owned health systems capable of withstanding global funding uncertainties.
