Uganda’s National Drug Authority Receives WHO Tools to Boost Antimicrobial Stewardship

Kampala, Uganda: Uganda has taken a significant step in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) following the handover of 300 WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) antibiotic books to the National Drug Authority (NDA). The support comes at a time when the country, like many low and middle-income nations, continues to grapple with rising resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, a trend that threatens decades of medical progress.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely recognized as one of the most urgent global health threats of the 21st century. It undermines effective health care, compromises food security, and poses significant risks to environmental safety, contributing to more than five million deaths worldwide each year. Sub-Saharan Africa remains among the most severely affected regions, challenged by weak laboratory systems, limited diagnostic capacity, and a high burden of infectious diseases. Uganda is no exception to these vulnerabilities.

Recent AMR data show resistance rates reaching 80 percent among common bacteria to widely prescribed antibiotics such as penicillin and cotrimoxazole. In 2019 alone, AMR was estimated to have caused 7,100 deaths in Uganda and contributed to an additional 30,700 deaths, figures that surpassed mortality from HIV and tuberculosis combined.
Economically, the projections are similarly grim. Without decisive action, AMR could cost the country between five and seven percent of its Gross Domestic Product by 2050 due to productivity losses, increased healthcare expenditure, and declining agricultural output.

Against this backdrop, the latest WHO support is a welcome boost to Uganda's stewardship efforts.
Receiving the books on behalf of the National Drug Authority, the Secretary to the Authority, Mr David Nahamya, expressed appreciation for WHO's continued support. He described the AWaRe manuals as timely tools that would help strengthen the country's regulatory and stewardship capacity. "We thank WHO for responding to our request and for the ongoing technical and regulatory support," he said.

Mr Nahamya also highlighted the need to extend such resources to private health facilities, which provide care to a large proportion of the population. "We hope WHO will consider availing more copies, especially for use in the private sector," he added. He further noted that Uganda's new medicines bill would soon be presented to Parliament, signaling strengthened commitment to ensuring responsible antimicrobial use nationwide.

Speaking at the same function, WHO's Ms Kira Koch emphasised the urgency of addressing declining antibiotic effectiveness. "AMR contributes to millions of deaths worldwide each year," she said. "Inappropriate use and overuse of antibiotics continue to fuel resistance, undermining the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines."

Ms Koch explained that the WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) antibiotic book was developed to offer practical, evidence-based guidance for clinicians. The manual provides clear recommendations on antibiotic selection, dosage, administration, and duration for more than 30 common infections affecting both adults and children. By guiding prescribers on when, and when not, to use antibiotics, the resource is expected to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship at all levels of the health system, particularly in primary health care, where misuse is most common.

"The AWaRe book is a flagship resource for improving antibiotic use globally," she noted. "We hope it will support healthcare workers across Uganda to make informed decisions that preserve the effectiveness of these critical medicines."

The handover marks another milestone in Uganda's broader national AMR action plan, which emphasises surveillance, stewardship, infection prevention, and public awareness. With AMR continuing to threaten treatment outcomes, from common infections to complex surgical procedures, health leaders hope that improved prescriber guidance will slow the progression of resistance and safeguard antimicrobial effectiveness for future generations.

For frontline health workers, the AWaRe book represents more than just a reference text; it is a practical tool to protect lives in clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals across the country. For Uganda, it is another important stride in a long, urgent fight against a silent but deadly global threat.