SHU Drives National Policy Milestone to Strengthen Community Health Financing in Uganda
Save for Health Uganda (SHU), together with fellow Community-Based Health Financing (CBHF) promoters, achieved a significant policy milestone by officially submitting the draft Community-Based Health Financing (CBHF) Guidelines to the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the meeting held on 25th February 2026 at MoH Headquarters in Kampala.
The Guidelines represent the culmination of an inclusive, multi-stakeholder process involving technical experts, district local governments, healthcare providers, development partners, CBHF practitioners, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development representatives. Their development reflects a shared commitment to establishing a harmonized policy framework that strengthens governance, accountability, financial sustainability, and the effective implementation of Community-Based Health Financing schemes across Uganda.
The submission marks an important step toward institutionalizing Community-Based Health Financing as a complementary mechanism for expanding financial protection and accelerating Uganda’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Once approved, the Guidelines will provide national standards for the establishment, regulation, and strengthening of CBHF schemes, fostering greater coordination and consistency across the country.
During the engagement, the Director General of Health Services commended SHU and its partners for their sustained technical leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to supporting government-led health financing reforms. The Ministry has initiated the internal technical review and harmonization process, with subsequent steps including senior management endorsement, validation by relevant departments and the Health Insurance Policy Advisory Committee, formal approval by the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Health, and nationwide dissemination.
This achievement demonstrates the value of sustained partnership between government, civil society, and development partners in shaping evidence-informed health financing policy. It also reinforces SHU’s role as a trusted technical partner in strengthening resilient and inclusive health systems that respond to the needs of communities.
As Uganda advances its health financing reforms, SHU remains committed to supporting the design and implementation of sustainable, community-centered financing mechanisms that reduce financial barriers to healthcare, strengthen local ownership, and improve equitable access to quality health services ensuring that no one is left behind.
This milestone is more than the submission of a policy document; it is a strategic investment in stronger health systems, enhanced financial protection, and a healthier future for all Ugandans.
