Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST), Ramathan Ggoobi, has called for stronger governance, accountability and value for money in the management of Global Fund resources, warning that every shilling invested in Uganda’s health sector must deliver measurable results.
Ggoobi made the remarks while opening the Global Fund Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) Retreat at Serena Kigo, where he highlighted the need for tighter financial controls as Uganda prepares for a decline in external development financing.
Uganda has received more than US$2.1 billion from the Global Fund since 2002 to support the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, while also strengthening the country’s health systems.
Ggoobi said the scale of the funding makes accountability critical, particularly as Uganda moves towards greater reliance on domestic financing.
He warned against financial irregularities, unsupported claims, unapproved expenditure and delayed accountability, saying those responsible for mismanagement of resources must be held personally accountable.
“Every shilling must deliver measurable results,” Ggoobi stressed.
The call comes as Uganda prepares to close Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 in December 2026, with implementing entities expected to maximise absorption of the available funds while maintaining strict compliance with grant requirements.
Under Grant Cycle 8, covering 2027–2029, Uganda is expected to receive about US$520 million. Ggoobi said the funds must be strategically invested in areas that strengthen the health system and reduce dependence on external support.
The priorities include diagnostics, digital health, health workforce capacity, community services, health systems strengthening and security of essential health commodities.
Ggoobi said sustainability must remain at the centre of the next funding cycle as development partners reduce external support and Uganda faces increasing pressure to finance its health needs domestically.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Diana Atwine, urged stakeholders to match technical knowledge with integrity in the management of health resources.
Atwine called on those entrusted with public funds to act as gatekeepers of the resources, emphasising accountability, ownership and excellence.
The retreat comes at a critical point for Uganda’s health financing, as the country seeks to protect gains made through decades of Global Fund support while building systems capable of sustaining essential programmes with greater domestic resources.
For Ggoobi, the challenge is not simply to spend available funding, but to ensure that every investment produces tangible improvements in health outcomes.
