American Center, Kampala, 1ST floor Kampala.

Good afternoon. It is my honor to welcome you to this important symposium on malaria research and control—a gathering that exemplifies the best of U.S.-Uganda partnership in global health.

Let me recognize our distinguished guests: Professor Moses Kamya and Dr. Richard Kajubi and the research community from the Infectious Disease Research Collaboration; Dr. Jane Nabakooza and colleagues from Uganda’s Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program; Dr. Matthew Murphy and the team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; representatives from U.S. universities conducting groundbreaking research here in Uganda; and all partners committed to ending malaria as a public health threat.

Malaria is not just a Ugandan challenge, it is a global health security issue that affects us all. With more than 250 million cases and over 600,000 deaths annually worldwide, malaria overwhelms health systems, devastates economies, and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. The U.S. CDC reports approximately 2,000 malaria cases each year in the United States, many among travelers returning from endemic regions. Controlling malaria here in Uganda protects not only Ugandans but also Americans and people around the world.

This is why malaria control is one of four global health priorities under the America First Global Health Strategy alongside HIV, tuberculosis, and polio eradication. Controlling infectious diseases at their source is the most effective way to protect Americans at home while advancing global health security.

The work represented in this room today demonstrates the extraordinary impact of U.S.-Uganda collaboration in malaria research. U.S. universities working alongside Ugandan researchers, the Ministry of Health, and implementing partners—have advanced our understanding of malaria surveillance, drug resistance, vector control, and case management. This research has generated evidence that saves lives, informs policy decisions, trains the next generation of scientists, and strengthens the bonds between our two nations. The researchers presenting today are not just conducting studies—you are building the knowledge base that will enable Uganda to achieve a malaria-free future.

This symposium comes as Uganda has just launched the country Malaria Indicator Survey 2024/2025 report and the Uganda Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (UMESP) 2025–2030—milestones that demonstrate Uganda’s commitment to malaria elimination.

These achievements align with a historic development in our partnership: last December, the United States and Uganda signed a five-year, $2.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation—the largest health partnership agreement in Uganda’s history. The United States committed up to $1.7 billion, and Uganda pledged over $500 million in co-investment. This is not a donor-recipient relationship; this is a true government-to-government collaboration built on shared responsibility, mutual accountability, and measurable results.

Advancing Uganda’s malaria elimination strategy, including scale-up of indoor residual spraying, will be central to MOU implementation.   Uganda’s commitment of over $500 million demonstrates the kind of country ownership that ensures sustainability and delivers value for Ugandans and Americans.

Today’s event showcases the depth and quality of U.S.-Uganda collaboration, government-to-government, university-to-university, researcher-to-researcher. These partnerships build capacity, foster innovation, and create durable systems that will outlast any single program or funding cycle.

In addition, we seek to promote American leadership and innovation—U.S. universities and government agencies are at the forefront of malaria research globally. American institutions are deploying cutting-edge tools and techniques, demonstrating the value of American science and innovation to the world.

This U.S. engagement has supported Uganda in making remarkable progress in malaria control, with prevalence dropping from 45% to 13% among children since 2009, household insecticide-treated net ownership reaching 84%, and pregnant women receiving preventive treatment increasing from 17% to 73%.

At the same, time disparities remain, particularly in the lowest-income communities which show 23% prevalence compared to 2% in the highest-income households, and refugee settlements lagging with only 51% net ownership and 16% malaria prevalence. This data indicates targeted interventions are needed for vulnerable populations to achieve elimination goals.

To researchers: continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge, translate your findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, and mentor the next generation of Ugandan scientists who will lead this fight in the years to come.

To our partners, the Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program: use this evidence to inform policy decisions, scale up effective interventions, and hold all of us accountable for results. Your leadership is essential to achieving a malaria-free Uganda.

To U.S. government colleagues and implementing partners: ensure that our programs are grounded in the best available science, support researchers with the resources, data, and platforms they need to succeed, and work together to maximize the impact of every dollar invested.

The United States is proud to stand with Uganda in the fight against malaria. The research and collaboration represented in this room shows how we can achieve our shared goal of a malaria-free Uganda.

As we move forward with MOU implementation, Uganda’s development of a comprehensive implementation plan including the next phase of our malaria partnership with scaled-up indoor residual spraying demonstrates the kind of country-led planning that will make the America First Global Health Strategy successful. This approach ensures that our investments deliver measurable results while building Uganda’s capacity to sustain these gains independently.

Thank you for your dedication, your expertise, and your collaboration. Together, we are protecting lives, strengthening health systems, and building a healthier, more prosperous future for both our nations.