Speaker Oboth (R) with Dr. Beccy Cooper (L) after their meeting at Parliament
By Joseph Kiggundu
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has described Uganda’s open and transparent response to major health crises such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola as a patriotic duty intended to protect both Ugandans and the international community.
Oboth made the remarks on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while meeting Dr. Beccy Cooper, Chairperson of the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health, who paid a courtesy call on him at Parliament.
The Speaker said the government deliberately chose to publicly disclose its health challenges even when it had the option of remaining silent in order to safeguard economic interests.
According to Oboth, Uganda’s decision was guided by the need to develop effective disease-management strategies and prevent the spread of infectious diseases beyond its borders.
Members of the Ugandan and UK teams after the meeting with the Speaker and Cooper seated in the centre
“It was not about economics; it was about health,” Oboth said, adding that Uganda’s proactive approach enabled the country to build strong systems for managing major public health emergencies.
Dr. Cooper commended Uganda for its achievements in the health sector and conveyed the UK government’s appreciation for the country’s leadership in responding to infectious diseases.
She noted that because diseases such as Ebola and COVID-19 do not respect national borders, the United Kingdom also benefits from Uganda’s health interventions and regional disease-control efforts.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, Hon. Charles Ayume, thanked the UK government for its continued support toward Uganda’s health sector.
Ayume said the support has been particularly valuable in training and capacity building for health workers during public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreaks.
The meeting underscored the continued cooperation between Uganda and the United Kingdom in strengthening public health systems and responding to emerging health threats.