The Ministry of Health, National Medical Stores and specialised institutes account for the largest shares of the funding, amid continued demand for medicines and improved healthcare services.
The government has released Shs961.2 billion to key health-sector institutions for the second quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year, with the Ministry of Health and National Medical Stores (NMS) receiving the largest allocations.
The releases form part of the government’s second-quarter expenditure programme, announced by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on October 15, 2026. The government released a total of Shs21.82 trillion across public institutions and priority programmes for the October-to-December quarter. <Cite refs={["turn631704search8","turn631704search12"]}/>
According to the figures in the health-sector breakdown, the Ministry of Health received Shs416.5 billion, while NMS was allocated Shs284.7 billion to support the procurement and distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies.
The Uganda Cancer Institute and Uganda Heart Institute were allocated a combined Shs165.5 billion, while national and regional referral hospitals received Shs94.5 billion.
The four allocations bring the total for the listed health-sector institutions to Shs961.2 billion.
The funding falls under the government’s Human Capital Development priorities, which include healthcare, education and social protection as part of the broader framework supporting the country’s development agenda.
The releases come as Uganda continues to face demands for improved access to healthcare, reliable supplies of essential medicines, stronger referral services and specialised treatment for conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The Ministry of Health’s Shs416.5 billion allocation is intended to support its programmes and activities. However, the headline figures do not provide a detailed breakdown of how much will go towards individual priorities.
NMS, which procures and distributes medicines and medical supplies to public health facilities, received Shs284.7 billion. The institution plays a central role in supplying public health facilities, making the timely procurement and distribution of commodities important to the effectiveness of the funding.
The Uganda Cancer Institute and Uganda Heart Institute received a combined Shs165.5 billion to support specialised healthcare services for patients requiring cancer treatment and cardiovascular care.
Their funding comes amid continued demand for specialised treatment, equipment and skilled health workers.
National and regional referral hospitals, which handle complex medical cases and receive patients referred from lower-level facilities, were allocated Shs94.5 billion. These institutions form a key part of Uganda’s referral system, providing advanced care and supporting other health facilities.
The second-quarter releases cover October to December 2026. The amounts announced represent funds released to the listed institutions; they do not, by themselves, establish how much has already been spent or how much has reached individual facilities.
The broader Human Capital Development programme also includes Shs154.6 billion for the Ministry of Education and Sports, Shs209.1 billion for public universities and Shs260.5 billion for the National Council of Sports, according to the figures provided in the expenditure breakdown.
For the health sector, the key test will be whether the funding supports timely access to medicines, better-equipped facilities, stronger referral services and more reliable treatment for Ugandans.