Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, acknowledged significant health gains in the country while addressing the ongoing challenges still hindering progress in the health sector.

Her remarks came during the official opening of the National Annual Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Conference (NACNDC) and the 19th Joint Annual Scientific Health Conference (JASH 2025) at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo.

In her keynote address, Dr. Aceng noted that Uganda has made considerable strides in areas such as increasing vaccination rates, improving life expectancy, and making progress in controlling diseases like HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.

However, she pointed out that health disparities continue to persist, particularly in rural regions, where access to healthcare remains limited.

The Minister also raised concerns about the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, which are becoming more prevalent in urban areas.

She emphasized that these conditions pose new challenges to public health in Uganda and require urgent attention.

Another critical issue Dr. Aceng addressed was vaccine hesitancy, citing the growing spread of misinformation as a significant barrier to achieving public health goals.

She called for stronger efforts to combat misinformation and promote accurate health information to boost vaccination uptake across the population.

Dr. Aceng urged for a more unified approach to tackling Uganda’s health challenges, stressing the importance of greater collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society.

She concluded her speech by calling for collective action to improve healthcare access, prevent further health crises, and ensure sustained progress in managing both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

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