Policy & planning
Leading national laboratory policy, strategic plans, and harmonised standards across public and partner-supported laboratories.
About NHLDS
Stewardship of Uganda's national health laboratory and diagnostics system.
Who we are
The National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS) is a department of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Republic of Uganda. We are the primary stakeholder for laboratory-related policy development, strategic planning, and resource mobilisation for the national health laboratory system.
NHLDS directly houses and manages the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL), which serves as Uganda's national reference centre for HIV early infant diagnosis and viral load, national microbiology reference laboratory, national tuberculosis reference laboratory, national laboratory biorepository, and national equipment calibration centre.
We also coordinate the integrated national laboratory specimen transportation network handling HIV, TB, and outbreak specimen referral across the country — connecting facilities from village to national level.
Our mandate
- Stewardship and coordination of laboratory services in Uganda
- Reference testing services at national scale
- Therapeutic drug monitoring and toxicity surveillance
- Policy development for the National Health Laboratory System
Strategic alignment
Our work implements the Uganda National Health Laboratory Services Policy and Strategic Plan, strengthening quality-assured disease diagnostics, monitoring, and surveillance.
Quality assurance
External quality assessment (EQA), accreditation support, calibration services, and biobank quality advancement across Africa.
Global partnerships
Collaborating with WHO, CDC, APHL, World Bank, and international researchers to strengthen laboratory systems and outbreak response.
Accessible worldwide
NHLDS information, reference services, and the National Laboratory Data Repository are designed for authorised users and partners globally — supporting Uganda's health goals and international public health collaboration.
Contact our team