South Sudan, Uganda sign health security agreement
Author: Wol Mapal | Published: September 8, 2026
South Sudan’s Minister of Health, Luke Thompson and the Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr Chris Baryomunsi signs Health Security Agreement in Juba.
Photo: MoH-RoSS.
South Sudan and Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cross-border health security and coordinate responses to disease outbreaks.
The agreement was signed in Juba on Monday, 7 September 2026, by the two countries’ Ministries of Health.
It seeks to improve disease surveillance, information sharing, laboratory preparedness and coordinated responses to public health emergencies along the shared border.
The agreement prioritizes threats including Bundibugyo Virus Disease, viral hemorrhagic fevers, cholera and other communicable diseases.
South Sudan has not reported a confirmed case of Bundibugyo Virus Disease but remains at risk of importing the virus because of porous borders and high population movement.
Vice President for the Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, says the agreement demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening health security.
“Health security is national security. The commitments formalized today by our Ministers of Health will not exist in isolation. This initiative will be supported by a resolute, whole-of-government approach,” Akol said.
The National Minister of Health, Luke Thompson Thoan, says the agreement will strengthen information sharing and joint preparedness between the two countries.
“This collaborative initiative reaffirms our commitment to seamless information sharing, joint preparedness and a coordinated response to public health threats. Together, we protect our communities and secure our shared future,” he said.
Uganda’s Health Minister, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, says the agreement should translate into practical action.
“This should not be another protocol or MoU that is signed today and sits on a shelf tomorrow. We are deliberately trying to build something different: a model of cooperation that is adaptive, operational and accountable,” Baryomunsi said.
Under the agreement, South Sudan and Uganda will cooperate on cross-border surveillance, screening at points of entry, vaccination, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and referral of patients and laboratory samples.
The two countries will also conduct joint preparedness activities, including simulation exercises, technical training and mentorship for health workers and rapid response teams.
The initiative was facilitated by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the UK Health Security Agency and the World Health Organization through the Continental Incident Management Support Team.
The Africa CDC says it will continue supporting the two countries to develop and implement a joint, costed and time-bound work plan.
The MoU will remain in force for an initial three years.
Officials say the agreement is intended to strengthen preparedness against infectious diseases that can spread across borders through population movement and trade.