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AMR in Uganda — Key Facts
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health. Each year, 1.3 million deaths are directly attributable to AMR and 4.95 million are associated with bacterial AMR. Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest per-capita AMR mortality burden, and Uganda faces critical challenges in surveillance and data integration.
AMR is projected to cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if unchecked. In Uganda, AMR-associated mortality surpassed deaths due to malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis in 2019, underscoring the urgent need for integrated data systems and coordinated One Health action.
- Fragmented data systems across multiple platforms
- Limited laboratory capacity for susceptibility testing
- Skills gaps in AMR data management
- Antimicrobial misuse and over-the-counter access
- Weak infection prevention and inadequate WASH
- One Health gaps across human, animal, and environmental sectors
Data Dashboard
AMR by the Numbers
Interactive visualisations drawn from peer-reviewed studies and global health reports. Hover over charts for detailed figures.
1.27M
Deaths directly attributable to AMR in 2019
Murray et al., The Lancet, 20224.95M
Deaths associated with bacterial AMR in 2019
GRAM Study, The Lancet, 202210M
Projected deaths per year by 2050 if unchecked
O’Neill Review, 2016$100T
Projected cumulative economic cost by 2050
O’Neill Review, 2016AMR vs Other Leading Causes of Death
Global deaths in millions (2019)
AMR Death Rate by Region
Deaths per 100,000 attributable to AMR (2019)
Projected AMR Deaths by 2050
Annual deaths by continent — millions
Economic Impact of AMR
Projected GDP decline by 2050 (World Bank)
Top 6 Pathogens by AMR Deaths
Deaths directly attributable to resistance — thousands (2019)
Share of AMR Deaths
Proportion of 1.27M attributable deaths (2019)
Antibiotic Resistance in Ugandan Hospitals
Estimated resistance rates (%) from surveillance studies
Antibiotic Use in Uganda
Key indicators of antimicrobial usage patterns
WHO AWaRe Classification
Uganda antibiotic use by category (target: ≥60% Access)
AMR Surveillance Infrastructure
Uganda’s surveillance capacity snapshot
~12 Sentinel Surveillance Sites
Participating in national AMR surveillance network
National AMR Reference Laboratory
Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Kampala
National Action Plan (2018)
2nd NAP (2024–2029) now in effect under One Health
Environmental AMR in Uganda
Resistance detected in water & environmental samples (%)
AMR in Livestock — East Africa
E. coli resistance rates in livestock (%)
WASH and AMR
Impact of water, sanitation & hygiene on antibiotic need
60%
reductionFewer antibiotics needed for diarrhoeal diseases with improved WASH
WHO, 2024- Antibiotic residues detected in 80–100% of Kampala wastewater samples (Lubwama et al., 2021)
- Multidrug-resistant E. coli found in 63% of river samples near hospitals in Mbarara (Birgen et al., 2020)
- Carbapenem-resistant bacteria in 14% of Lake Victoria shoreline samples near Kampala (Bongomin et al., 2022)
- Improved sanitation reduces environmental spread of resistant organisms
Data Sources
- Murray, C.J.L. et al. (2022). “Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis.” The Lancet, 399(10325), 629–655.
- O’Neill, J. (2016). “Tackling Drug-Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations.” Review on Antimicrobial Resistance.
- World Bank (2017). “Drug-Resistant Infections: A Threat to Our Economic Future.” Washington, DC.
- WHO (2023). “AWaRe Global Monitoring Report.” World Health Organization.
- Seni, J. et al. (2023). Systematic review of E. coli resistance in East African livestock. Antibiotics.
- Katale, B.Z. et al. (2020). ESBL-producing E. coli in livestock, Kampala. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control.
- Lubwama, M. et al. (2021). Antibiotic residues in Kampala wastewater. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
- Birgen, B.J. et al. (2020). MDR E. coli in Mbarara river water. BMC Microbiology.
- Bongomin, F. et al. (2022). Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Lake Victoria. PLoS ONE.
- Van Boeckel, T.P. et al. (2015). Global antibiotic consumption in livestock. Science.
Key Challenges
Key Challenges in Uganda
One Health
1.05M
AMR Deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa
In 2019, AMR was associated with an estimated 1.05 million deaths across Sub-Saharan Africa, the highest per-capita burden in the world.
2018
Uganda’s First National Action Plan
Uganda adopted its first National Action Plan on AMR in 2018. A second NAP (2024–2029) is now in effect, prioritising surveillance and data systems.
10M
Projected Deaths by 2050
AMR is projected to cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if unchecked. In Uganda, AMR-associated mortality already surpasses deaths from malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.
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Terminology
AMR Glossary — Key Terms Explained
Common terminology used in antimicrobial resistance research, surveillance, and the NIAMR project.
AMR — Antimicrobial Resistance
The ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of drugs that once could treat them.
AST — Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Laboratory testing to determine which antimicrobial drugs are effective against a specific microorganism.
One Health
An integrated approach balancing the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
NIAMR — National Integrated AMR Platform
The digital platform being developed by this project to integrate AMR data across Uganda.
