Exploring leadership strategies for telemedicine implementation and remote patient care in Ugandan healthcare clinics

Purpose Telemedicine offers a promising avenue for improving healthcare access in low-resource settings, yet its adoption in Uganda remains uneven. Leadership is pivotal in shaping the successful implementation and management of telemedicine programs, influencing infrastructure development, staff engagement, policy adherence and patient trust. Therefore, this study aims to explore the leadership strategies, challenges, and contextual factors that influence the implementation and sustainability of telemedicine and remote patient care services in Ugandan healthcare clinics. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study explored the strategies, challenges and contextual factors affecting telemedicine implementation in Ugandan healthcare clinics. Using a phenomenological approach, semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 healthcare leaders, including clinic managers, IT leads and senior medical officers, from public and private clinics in Kampala, Mbarara and Gulu. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) method was used, with NVivo software facilitating coding and data management. Findings Findings reveal how leadership practices, such as strategic planning, staff capacity building and stakeholder engagement, influence the adoption and sustainability of telemedicine services. Contextual factors, including infrastructural limitations, policy gaps and cultural considerations, were found to shape decision-making processes. Originality/value Insights from this study provide valuable guidance for national eHealth policy formulation, leadership development programs and scalable digital health interventions in Uganda and similar Sub-Saharan African contexts.