Crystabel Ukwuegbu
As malaria season begins across Africa, health officials in Uganda are raising concerns over the potential impact of reduced U.S. foreign aid, warning that the consequences could be severe for vulnerable communities.
The recent decision by the Trump administration to cut 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts has created uncertainty for malaria prevention programs in Uganda, a country where the disease remainsa major contributor to mortality, particularly in young children.
Dr. Jimmy Opigo, who leads Uganda’s malaria control efforts, revealed that USAID’s stop-work orders issued in late January have forced his team to shift their focus toward emergency response planning. The United States has historically been a major contributor to anti-malaria initiatives across Africa.
Opigo stressed the importance of continued access to mosquito nets and anti-malarial medications, describing them as essential as food supplies. “There must be an uninterrupted supply,” he stated from Kampala, adding that without sufficient resources, severe malaria cases could rise later this year, leading to life-threatening complications such as organ failure.
While malaria vaccines are being distributed in some African nations, they are not yet a perfect solution. The global vaccine alliance continues to support these efforts, but concerns remain over the potential surge in cases due to the funding cuts.
According to Malaria No More, a Washington-based nonprofit, projections indicate that a single year of disruption in malaria prevention efforts could lead to nearly 15 million additional cases and over 100,000 more deaths worldwide. The organization has urged the U.S. government to reconsider its decision to suspend funding.
In 2023, Africa accounted for 95% of the estimated 597,000 malaria-related deaths globally, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda among the hardest-hit countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
U.S. funding, allocated through the President’s Malaria Initiative under USAID, has played a critical role in supporting malaria control efforts in these regions. The financial assistance, which has amounted to between $30 million and $35 million annually in Uganda, is channeled through various medical charities, faith-based organizations, and non-governmental institutions, making prevention and treatment accessible, particularly in rural areas.
Uganda reported 12.6 million malaria cases and nearly 16,000 deaths in 2023, with children under five and pregnant women being the most affected, as per WHO data.
While Opigo did not specify which contracts were terminated, he acknowledged that research initiatives have also been disrupted. Some USAID funds were designated for mosquito-spraying operations in remote regions, which were supposed to begin in February, ahead of the rainy season when stagnant water creates ideal breeding conditions for anopheles mosquitoes. However, these efforts are now on hold.
“We need to spray homes before the rains arrive when mosquitoes multiply rapidly,” Opigo explained.
Every year, long lines of malaria patients fill clinics across Uganda, with the disease accounting for up to 50% of outpatient visits, according to the Uganda National Institute of Public Health.
Opigo expressed hope that agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health might step in to help. However, he also cautioned that Uganda must handle its relationship with the U.S. carefully to navigate this challenging period.
