At the end of March 2025, Uganda reaffirmed its national commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a high-level quarterly meeting of the Uganda National Antimicrobial Resistance Subcommittee (UNAMRSC). The meeting convened a wide range of stakeholders from human health, veterinary, agricultural, and environmental sectors to evaluate progress and refine strategies aligned with Uganda’s National AMR Action Plan.
Researchers from CAMO-Net Uganda, based at Makere University’s Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) presented updated findings from its recent study on the economic burden of antibiotic resistance. The presentation, delivered by Health Economist Elly Nuwamanya, shed new light on the scale and social dimensions of AMR-related costs in Uganda. The data revealed that women bear a significantly greater economic burden due to higher informal care and lost productivity costs, prompting discussions around the importance of gender-responsive AMR policies.
“Our findings highlight the urgent need for gender-sensitive planning within Uganda’s AMR response,” Mr Nuwamanya said. “Without targeted interventions, the impact of antibiotic resistance will continue to deepen existing health and economic inequalities.”
This focus on gender reflects a growing emphasis across CAMO-Net on understanding how AMR intersects with broader social and environmental determinants. Research from CAMO-Net South Africa and CAMO-Net India has explored how climate-related stressors and gender norms shape access to healthcare, antibiotic use, and vulnerability to drug-resistant infections. These insights are helping CAMO-Net partners design interventions that are not only evidence-based but also socially equitable – recognising that sustainable AMR responses must be inclusive of the diverse realities individuals face.
The meeting in Uganda also examined national surveillance data and identified key challenges in antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), particularly in rural and underserved areas. Participants called for improved data quality and coverage, highlighting that accurate surveillance is critical for guiding effective antimicrobial stewardship and ensuring the equitable delivery of care.
During the meeting, the CAMO-Net Uganda hub also met with Professor Damalie Nakanjako, Principal of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences, to discuss future collaboration opportunities with CAMO-Net and the wider IDI team. The discussion focused on strengthening AMR research capacity, expanding training programmes, and improving diagnostic systems through investment in laboratory infrastructure and workforce development.
This alignment with the wider Makerere University community builds on one of the key pillars of Uganda’s National AMR Action Plan: enhancing research and innovation to inform evidence-based decision-making. As Uganda progresses into the next phase of implementation, such partnerships between academia, research institutions, and government bodies are seen as critical drivers of sustainable impact. This also plays an important part of CAMO-Net’s mission – playing its part in shaping policies that directly address AMR both locally and around the world.
The UNAMRSC meeting concluded with renewed commitments to:
- Scale up AST coverage across all regions,
- Prioritise cross-sectoral data sharing,
- Strengthen governance and accountability frameworks, and
- Expand awareness and capacity-building initiatives in line with a One Health approach.
With its strong evidence base and collaborative ethos, the CAMO-Net Uganda hub continues to play a central role in supporting national efforts to monitor, understand, and respond to AMR. As Uganda navigates the complex challenges of AMR containment, cross-sectoral partnerships remain essential to protect public health, reduce economic losses, and build a resilient healthcare system.
