Researchers from CAMO-Net Uganda recently attended Uganda’s Parliament for a high-level forum on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The session brought together Members of Parliament, health policymakers, and national stakeholders to address the growing challenge of AMR.
The CAMO-Net Uganda hub was invited to the forum to contribute evidence and insights on AMR in the country. The forum, which was chaired by Hon. Dr Charles Ayume, Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee, explored the legislative and policy measures needed to mitigate AMR’s health and economic impact.
The session marked a significant milestone in CAMO-Net’s mission to bring local evidence to the heart of national policy. The Uganda hub, hosted by the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) at Makerere University, presented the findings of a newly completed study on the economic burden of antibiotic resistance (ABR) across nine regional referral hospitals. The results painted a stark picture: Uganda is losing approximately UGX 64 billion (USD 17.7 million) annually due to the wide-ranging costs of AMR.
These include:
- Direct health system costs of over USD 12 million, including hospital stays, treatment, and personnel
- Informal care costs totalling over USD 4 million, reflecting time and support provided by family and community caregivers
- Lost productivity costs of more than USD 1.4 million, stemming from prolonged illness and premature deaths
“Without immediate, coordinated action, the economic strain on our health system will only worsen,” warned Elly Nuwamanya, Research Health Economist at CAMO-Net Uganda, and the study’s lead researcher. “The cost of inaction is far greater than the investment needed to strengthen AMR surveillance and stewardship.”
The policy brief distributed at the forum highlighted additional insights. Notably, the data revealed that women bear a disproportionate share of the economic burden, with informal care and productivity loss costs 44% and 52% higher, respectively, than those for men. This gendered dimension underscores the importance of inclusive, equitable AMR interventions.
The findings also pointed to a 30% shortfall in the annual budget allocation for regional referral hospitals due to AMR, illustrating how resistant infections are not only a clinical issue but a systemic economic challenge. The most significant contributors to direct costs were hospital personnel and antibiotic use, suggesting that tackling AMR could also reduce pressure on frontline staff and improve the efficiency of health service delivery.
Dr Francis Kakooza, Head of Global Health Security at IDI and Co-Principal Investigator of the CAMO-Net Uganda hub, welcomed the forum as a moment of real political traction.
“This is a timely and reassuring step,” he said. “For years, researchers have spoken about the health threat of AMR. Now, with these findings, we can show its economic toll in Uganda—and give policymakers the data they need to act.”
Members of Parliament responded with a strong call for enhanced regulation and enforcement. Hon. Dr Ayume reaffirmed the Health Committee’s commitment to reviewing existing drug dispensation laws and working across ministries to develop a legislative framework that prioritises AMR containment. MPs also stressed the importance of public education, diagnostic capacity, and responsible prescribing in both public and private healthcare settings.
The forum concluded with a shared recognition of the need for:
- Stronger AMR surveillance and data sharing between sectors
- Stewardship programmes to guide appropriate antimicrobial use
- Enhanced training for healthcare workers
- Greater investment in infection prevention and control measures
- Clear legislative pathways to support these priorities
The session was widely covered by national media and commended by stakeholders for bridging the gap between evidence and policymaking. CAMO-Net will continue to work closely with Uganda’s AMR Coordination Committee and relevant ministries to support the development of an integrated national response.
This forum is an example of how CAMO-Net’s model—supporting country-led research, building capacity, and connecting data to policy—can strengthen systems and promote sustainable solutions to the AMR challenge.
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Read more about this story:
- https://african.business/2025/03/apo-newsfeed/uganda-members-of-parliament-mps-call-for-stringent-enforcement-of-laws-on-drug-dispensation
- https://ubc.go.ug/2025/03/25/legislators-push-for-stronger-drug-prescription-and-antimicrobial-resistance-measures/
- https://wallnetnews.com/mps-urge-government-to-strengthen-enforcement-against-antimicrobial-resistance/
- https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/3647/mps-call-stringent-enforcement-laws-drug-dispensation
Learn more about Elly Nuwamanya
