Uganda has emerged as the second-highest ranked country in Africa for the number of accredited laboratories. The announcement came during the 6th Biennial Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA) Symposium meeting, held on the 10th and 11th of December in Cape Town, South Africa.

With a remarkable 73 internationally accredited human health laboratories, spanning both the public and private sectors, Uganda has positioned itself as a leader in laboratory service delivery. This accomplishment reflects the commitment and dedication of the Ministry of Health and the Department of Laboratory Services in embracing and promoting quality laboratory practices.

Dr. Susan Nabadda, the Commissioner of Laboratory Services, expressed gratitude, stating, “We thank the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the Department of Laboratory Services for embracing quality laboratory service delivery. We thank our partners for the support given to us to reach this far.”

The recognition comes as part of the Biennial SLMTA Symposium, a pre-conference meeting associated with the Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA) program, a flagship initiative under the PEPFAR umbrella.

Launched in 2009 alongside the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) program, SLMTA focuses on providing the “how-to” with comprehensive training and mentoring to enhance laboratory systems.

The synergy between SLMTA and SLIPTA has played a pivotal role in transforming the laboratory landscape over the past 13 years. While SLIPTA conducts audits to measure laboratory quality, SLMTA complements this by offering the necessary training and mentoring to translate accreditation aspirations into reality.

The success of both programs is evident in Uganda’s impressive tally of accredited laboratories.

This achievement not only underscores Uganda’s commitment to advancing healthcare standards but also highlights the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between the government, laboratory services, and international partners.