KAMPALA – The Finance Minister, Henry Musasizi, has called upon the international community to lift all travel restrictions on trade, tourism, and investment, following Uganda’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Minister conveyed this message on Monday during high-level talks with the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, H.E. Mikael Cleverley, at the Finance Ministry headquarters in Kampala.
The meeting, which also included senior U.S. health officials, marked a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, with both sides recommitting to transparency, shared health goals, and the removal of barriers to trade and investment.
The engagement also solidified the strengthening of health financing mechanisms, particularly through the Development Objectives Assistance Agreement (DOAG).
Minister Musasizi reaffirmed Uganda’s unwavering commitment to consolidating all health sector resources, whether from domestic revenues or international partners, with uncompromising transparency.
“We deeply value the enduring support from the American people over the years, especially in the health sector. The full visibility of all funds, whether through government or direct partner channels, is not just about accountability but about tangible impact,” Musasizi stated.
Minister Musasizi lauded Uganda’s successful containment of recent Ebola outbreaks, citing the nation’s world-class capacity in disease surveillance and outbreak response.
He urged the U.S. envoy to carry Uganda’s story to the international community, appealing for the lifting of all travel restrictions that continue to stifle trade, tourism, and investment potential.
“Uganda has demonstrated world-class capacity in disease surveillance and outbreak response. It is time to tell the world that Uganda is safe. We request the lifting of all travel restrictions that are currently stifling our trade, tourism, and investment potentials,” the Minister asserted.
Accompanied by a distinguished delegation including Public Health Advisor Jessica Healey and PEPFAR Country Coordinator Mary Borgman, H.E. Mikael Cleverley responded with a resounding vote of confidence.
The Chargé d’Affaires commended Uganda’s effective management of the Ebola crisis, acknowledging that these very efforts are accelerating the process toward lifting the restrictions.
“We see the progress, and we commend the Ugandan government’s swift and effective response. These milestones are precisely what will trigger the review and lifting of travel advisories. The U.S. remains a committed partner in ensuring that Uganda’s public health achievements are recognized globally,” Cleverley noted.
H.E. Mikael Cleverley further reiterated America’s steadfast support for Uganda, applauding the warm bilateral ties and stressing that U.S. health investments are driven by one goal: stronger systems, healthier families, and a more resilient nation.
The meeting comes on the heels of a landmark five-year, USD 2.3 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed between the two governments.
Under this visionary framework, the United States has earmarked up to USD 1.7 billion to save lives and fortify Uganda’s health system against current and future threats.
The delegation discussed the upcoming Strategic Objective Agreement (SOAG), which is poised to provide an even more specific legal and programmatic framework for government-to-government cooperation.
The new agreement will focus on achieving better outcomes in priority areas, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, disease surveillance, and maternal and child health, cornerstones of the U.S.-Uganda health partnership.
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