NHLDS Hosts Japanese Ambassador to Uganda

05/11/2025: Kampala.

The National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS) today hosted the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Takuya Sasayama, on his first official visit to the institution. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in laboratory systems, diagnostics, and public health between Uganda and Japan.

Ambassador Sasayama was accompanied by Ms. Eva Nakamura, the ODA Secretary, and Mr. Tatsuya Matsuda, the Medical Secretary. The visit underscored Japan’s longstanding partnership with Uganda’s health sector, particularly in capacity building, technology transfer, and laboratory infrastructure development.

During the visit, the delegation toured key laboratory units and held discussions with the NHLDS leadership on ongoing and future collaboration. The department presented priority areas for potential Japanese support, including the scaling up of Japanese health technology across Africa.

Ambassador Sasayama commended Uganda for its continued progress in strengthening laboratory systems and improving health outcomes. He also commended Uganda’s improved life expectancy to 68 years, describing it as a testament to sustained investment in healthcare.

“Uganda should make it a legal obligation for all employees to undergo annual health checks. This will not only strengthen preventive healthcare but could see individual life expectancy rise to 100 years, investing in laboratory services, therefore is of critical importance.,” he said.

He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Uganda’s development, noting that Japan has a long history of assistance through JICA, Fujifilm, Toyota, and other corporations, and will continue to invest in Uganda’s health and development sectors.

Speaking during the visit, NHLDS Commissioner Dr. Susan Nabadda welcomed the Ambassador and appreciated the Government of Japan for its continued support. She emphasized that such collaborations play a vital role in advancing diagnostic capacity, disease surveillance, and quality health services across Uganda.

Later, the Ambassador and his delegation visited Kira Health Centre IV, which is currently undergoing expansion.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Koya Matsushita from Fujifilm and Mr. Kensuke Onigata from CFAO Uganda, reflecting the growing role of Japanese corporations in supporting Uganda’s healthcare system.