Uganda Health Services Transformation Program

pipeline

The Uganda Health Services Transformation Program (UHSTP) is a proposed US$300 million, six-year operation, for which Program-for Results (PforR) is the primary instrument. Of the proposed IDA financing for this operation, US$275 million will be for the PforR, and US$25 million for the Investment Project Financing (IPF) Component. The operation responds to a set of binding constraints: per capita health spending at one-third of the Universal Health Coverage benchmark, only 34 percent of approved health workforce positions filled, 86 percent of level IV health facilities (HCIVs) failing to meet minimum spatial standards, and a structural shift toward non-communicable diseases that the current system is not equipped to manage.The Program will contribute to implementation of Uganda PHC Enhancement Program, which in turn is part of the Ministry of Health’s overall strategic plan to improve the health and wellbeing of Ugandans through the following strategic five strategic objectives described above. While the overall strategic plan will also heavily focus on higher levels of care, this Program will focus on the PHC aspects and linkages to selected referral/higher level services and will therefore only cover a slice of the overall program costed at UGX 16,938.99 billion over five years. UHSTP is organized around six game changers: (a) scaling integrated high-impact health service delivery across the life cycle; (b) elevating service-readiness at over 140 HCIVs through infrastructure, diagnostics, and workforce upgrades; (c) reshaping the health workforce with competency-based training for approximately 20,000 health workers and deployment of 25,000 community health workers; (d) optimizing supply chains with AI-enabled demand forecasting and real-time logistics; (e) driving digital health transformation through interoperable Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), and health information systems; and (f) strengthening leadership, governance, and social accountability at all levels.The Program aims to reach approximately 15 million people with quality health, nutrition, and population services by 2031/32, contributing directly to the World Bank Group's 1.5 billion health target and the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) goal of reaching 22 million people by 2035. It also generates significant employment — through direct health worker recruitment, indirect jobs in construction and supply chains, and long-term productivity gains from improved human capital. The operation is fully aligned with Uganda's 4th National Development Plan, the Ministry of Health Strategic Plan, the Uganda Health Compact (2025–2030), and the WBG CPF for FY26–35.The Government of Uganda requested funding for the Uganda Health Services Transformation Program through a letter dated February 12, 2026 and to participate in the AFE PHC MPA through a letter dated June 16, 2026.