This paper focuses on Uganda’s Second Review Under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) and Request for Modification of Assessment Criteria. Economic performance of Uganda has been broadly favorable. Progress has been made on structural reforms, but further steps are needed. Starting the construction of the two hydropower projects without further delay, approving and regulating the Public Financial Management Bill, and strengthening accounting controls are crucial steps in the reform effort. The expected amendments to the Bank of Uganda Act should support the inflation targeting regime. Based on the proposed policies, the IMF staff supports completion of the second PSI review.

The Fourth Review Under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) for Uganda highlights that the PSI-supported program is on track. All end-December 2011 quantitative assessment criteria were met, as were most of the structural benchmarks. The stance of macroeconomic policy remains appropriate. Monetary tightening, initiated in July 2011 in response to rising inflation, has been effective in reducing demand and price pressures in the economy. High interest rates supported by tighter fiscal policy have strengthened the currency and raised reserve levels.

The outlook has become more challenging in recent months. While COVID-19 infections declined significantly, an outbreak of Ebola has raised new public health concerns. Moreover, the economic outlook has been negatively affected by the spillovers from the war in Ukraine and the tightening of global financial conditions. The authorities have reacted to the shocks in an appropriate manner, including through support to vulnerable households, and monetary policy tightening to contain inflation.

The 2006 World Health Report focuses on the chronic shortages of doctors, midwives, nurses and other health care support workers in the poorest countries of the world where they are most needed. This is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa, which has only four in every hundred global health workers but has a quarter of the global burden of disease, and less than one per cent of the world's financial resources. Poor working conditions, high rates of attrition due to illness and migration, and education systems that are unable to pick up the slack reflect the depth of the challenges in these crisis countries. This report considers the challenges involved and sets out a 10-year action plan designed to tackle the crisis over the next ten years, by which countries can strengthen their health system by building their health workforces and institutional capacity with the support of global partners.