Leaders and malaria experts from more than 29 African countries have gathered in Kampala for a joint meeting of the SMC Alliance and the Alliance for Malaria Prevention, with a renewed call for stronger political leadership in the fight against the disease.
The Deputy speaker, Thomas Tayebwa said the battle against malaria cannot be left to health professionals and development partners alone.
He emphasized that politicians must complement technical expertise with firm political will, stronger parliamentary oversight, and increased domestic financing for health systems.
Tayebwa welcomed the Government of Uganda’s prioritisation of domestic financing for the health sector, including malaria control efforts, noting that sustainable funding is essential to reduce dependence on external donors.
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death across Africa. Tayebwa warned that failing to treat it as an existential threat would amount to misplaced national and continental priorities.
In his capacity as President of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific Parliamentary Assembly, which brings together 79 parliaments, Tayebwa pledged to ensure malaria features prominently on the agenda of upcoming meetings in Côte d’Ivoire and at the Heads of State Summit in Equatorial Guinea.
He stressed that continental coordination is critical, particularly in addressing cross-border transmission.
“If Uganda continues to struggle with malaria while Kenya eliminates it, none of us is safe,” he noted, underscoring the need for harmonised strategies and joint surveillance mechanisms.
Tayebwa also highlighted the growing impact of climate change, which is altering mosquito lifespans and influencing the spread of malaria into new regions.
He called for collective action among political leaders, development partners, and public health experts to accelerate interventions and strengthen accountability frameworks.