The Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) was honoured to participate in the 10th National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Conference 2025 at Hotel Africana in Kampala under the theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”. The conference was a key part of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) activities and was organized by the National One Health Platform.
The event convened stakeholders from human, animal, and environmental health sectors stakeholders committed to combating antimicrobial AMR to discuss ongoing response efforts and national AMR priorities using a One Health approach. Fellows from the UNIPH shared findings and recommendations from their studies on how to strengthen AMR surveillance and diagnosis as part of the ongoing efforts to combat AMR. Partners shared their contributions in the ongoing fight against AMR. These included development of frameworks and plans (AMR-NAP II), capacity building in selected facilities, procurement of equipment and supplies as well as community engagement. Presentations indicated that even in resource-limited settings, meaningful advances are possible when science, policy, and community action align. Based on the discussions, continued investment in data systems, laboratory capacity, and human capital will determine how well the country, and the region meet the next phase of the AMR challenge.
The biggest challenge highlighted during the conference was the limited and unpredictable funding landscape. Many sectoral budgets lack specific allocations for AMR-related activities, leaving the implementation of critical interventions dependent on external funding and yet a number of donor-funded projects were coming to an end. It was also noted that coordination across sectors was often inconsistent, and there were still no integrated national performance indicators to track progress.
Among the key recommendations to combat AMR from the grass roots was community engagement and public awareness. While delivering the keynote speech, Dr. David Musoke emphasised the central role of communities in strengthening Uganda’s AMR response. He positioned Uganda’s AMR burden within the broader global crisis, noting that one in six bacterial infections globally, and one in five infections in Africa, are now resistant to available antibiotics. He stressed that while technical and clinical interventions remain essential, sustainable progress requires strong public engagement, behaviour change, and community-driven stewardship.
To reach these communities, Dr. Kambugu highlighted that there was need to work with health institutions, academic organisations, local government, faith-based groups, and community networks. Creative approaches such as music, dance, and acting highlighting the dangers of antibiotic misuse and encourage responsible behaviour were also emphasized during the conference.
Authors contribution: WA, SG, and RK, conceived and designed the article with input from NE, NR, and KH who also attended the conference. SM was the lead conference organizer with immense support from NC. All authors agreed to the submission of the article.
Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the support of the conference organizers and Partners; Ministry of Health, Uganda, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Water and Environment, World Health Organization, Baylor Foundation Uganda, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Flemming Fund, National Medical Stores.
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