By Frank Kamuntu| Mr Swift
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has assumed leadership of Uganda’s National One Health Platform, taking on the responsibility of strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and coordination across human, animal and environmental health sectors.
The handover ceremony, held at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, followed the Ministry of Water and Environment’s tenure and marks a new phase in Uganda’s efforts to address emerging health threats through a coordinated, multisectoral approach.
Under its leadership, UWA will prioritise strengthening disease surveillance, improving outbreak preparedness and response, expanding One Health coordination teams at subnational level and accelerating the development of a comprehensive national One Health policy.
Representing UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi, Commissioner for Legal and Corporate Affairs Chemonges Sabila Mongea reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to the initiative, emphasising the close link between wildlife conservation and public health.
“The health of our wildlife is inextricably linked to the health of our communities,” he said.
UWA’s priorities will also include finalising the Pandemic Fund proposal, mobilising resources, strengthening research partnerships and improving collaboration among institutions responsible for human, animal and environmental health.
The outgoing leadership, represented by Ministry of Water and Environment Permanent Secretary Dr Alfred Okot Okidi, highlighted progress made during its tenure, including strengthened multisectoral coordination and training for approximately 67 district health teams across the country.
However, challenges remain, including recurring zoonotic disease outbreaks, inadequate funding and gaps in information sharing among participating institutions.
The outgoing leadership called for sustained efforts to address emerging threats, including antimicrobial resistance, climate-related zoonotic diseases and health risks associated with expanding oil, gas and mining activities.
Established in 2016, the National One Health Platform brings together government ministries, agencies and development partners to strengthen preparedness and response to health threats that cut across sectors.
The handover brought together representatives from the ministries responsible for health, agriculture, animal industry and fisheries, and water and environment, alongside development partners including UNICEF, FAO, WHO, CDC, GIZ, FHI 360, WWF, COHESA, KOFIH, IDI and IGAD.
UWA’s new leadership is expected to strengthen early disease detection, improve coordination and advance efforts to protect communities, wildlife and the environment from shared health threats.