Health Minister Applauds NHLDS for Driving Uganda’s Diagnostic Excellence.
09/9/2025 MoH Headquarters:
The Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, has commended the MoH Uganda- Department of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS) for their role in advancing Uganda’s diagnostic capacity and strengthening health systems.
During a meeting at the Ministry headquarters, the NHLDS team led by Commissioner Dr. Susan Nabadda, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Caroline Achola, and Lab Director Dr. Isaac Ssewanyana presented milestones and ongoing challenges in the laboratory sector.
The department has diversified its work beyond HIV to include new specialized facilities such as the;
Genomics Core Laboratory
Emergency Response and Surveillance Lab (CERSL) with mobile units
Malaria Reference Laboratory
Nutrition Biomarker Testing Lab
National Calibration Centre and
Expanded services in NCD diagnostics,
Radiology and imaging.
Commissioner Dr. Susan Nabadda credited Minister Hon Dr. Aceng’s leadership with enabling key milestones, including:
Establishment of the Emergency Response and Surveillance Lab (CERSL) during COVID-19 to provide real-time results and reduce turnaround times
Championing community hospitals to take services closer to the people
Increasing laboratory sector funding from UGX 10 billion to UGX 150 billion
Supporting the establishment of stand-alone laboratories at RRHs.
“Hon Minister we would like to commend you for the support to the lab department as an advocate, for technical expertise, governance and leadership that has enabled us to achieve our milestones. You have also supported us to acquire vehicles and motorcycles to support our ongoing work,” Dr Susan Nabadda- Commissioner NHLDS.
In her remarks, Minister Hon Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng expressed her appreciation for the department’s resilience:
“I am happy and impressed the Department has come along way amidst minimal resources. Allow me express gratitude for the work the lab has done from community to national level which is critical for universal health coverage. I am happy to remain the Champion of the lab,” Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
She also urged the department to:
Support standardization of community health workers who conduct testing at community level
Strengthen advocacy for the National Health Insurance scheme to secure sustainable financing
Promote local manufacturing of diagnostics while ensuring quality assurance.
The meeting closed with a commitment for continued engagement, particularly around the establishment of the new Nutrition Laboratory.
