Uganda: MPs Push for Stronger Enforcement to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Parliamentarians Urge Government to Double Down on Drug Prescription Enforcement Amid Rising Public Health and Economic Threats.

Members of Parliament under the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance (PFAMR) have called upon the government to step up enforcement of policies and laws regulating drug dispensation across Uganda. The call was made during a high-level workshop on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) held at Parliament on Friday, 21 March 2025.

During the session, MPs expressed growing concern over the escalating health and economic threats posed by the improper use and dispensation of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. The lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for stricter controls on drug prescriptions, accurate drug interpretation, and proper labelling practices in order to tackle the silent yet deadly crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

Inadequate Enforcement Undermining Progress

Hon. Dr. Nicholas Thadeus Kamara (FDC, Kabale Municipality), who chaired the workshop, acknowledged that while Parliament has enacted strong laws and policies to regulate drug dispensation, the challenge lies in enforcement.

“We have put the legal frameworks in place, but enforcement is lacking,” Dr. Kamara noted. “I urge Local Councils and the National Drug Authority to ensure that prescription of drugs remains solely in the hands of qualified prescribers. Drug shop operators and pharmacists must adhere strictly to the requirement of dispensing only doctor-prescribed medications.”

Dr. Kamara described antimicrobial resistance as a “silent pandemic,” citing data that shows over 37,800 Ugandans lose their lives annually due to drug-resistant infections. He called on his fellow parliamentarians and the public to recognize the urgency of the situation and to play active roles in mitigating the crisis.

Economic Costs Mounting Due to AMR

Echoing Dr. Kamara’s concerns, Elly Nuwamanya, a health economist from the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), revealed startling economic implications of AMR. Presenting findings from a study conducted by the Centre for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network, Nuwamanya stated that Uganda loses approximately Shs67 million each year due to the impacts of antimicrobial resistance.

“This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic one as well. These figures should be a wake-up call for policymakers and stakeholders to take unified and coordinated action,” Nuwamanya emphasized. “The more we delay, the more we pay — both in human lives and in economic strain.”

He stressed the importance of continued engagement with lawmakers to ensure that policies remain responsive and adaptive to the evolving threat of AMR, especially as Uganda continues to work towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and safeguarding global health security.

Recognition for Government’s Progress

Dr. Francis Kakooza, Head of the Global Health Security Department at IDI, commended the Ugandan government for recently presenting a comprehensive report outlining the economic burden of AMR. He praised the move as a clear indication of commitment to addressing the crisis in line with both national and international health security priorities.

“This is a positive step forward. It shows that the government is not only aware of the problem but is taking meaningful steps to address it at the highest level,” Dr. Kakooza said.

Call for Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

The workshop also brought together a broad array of stakeholders including representatives from the Baylor Foundation Uganda, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Environment, the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, and the National One Health Platform.

All stakeholders echoed the same message — that combating antimicrobial resistance requires a multi-sectoral, whole-of-society approach. Participants agreed that sustained collaboration between Parliament, government agencies, health institutions, and civil society is key to slowing the tide of resistance.

About the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance

The Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance (PFAMR) is a cross-sectoral advocacy platform that mobilizes legislators to engage in the national and global fight against antimicrobial resistance. The forum ensures that MPs are equipped to perform their oversight, legislative, and representative roles with a deeper understanding of the implications of AMR on public health, economic growth, and sustainable development.

As Uganda continues to grapple with AMR, the renewed commitment from lawmakers provides a ray of hope that tangible change can be achieved — but only with consistent policy enforcement and stronger partnerships across all levels of society.