Uganda declares it’s Ebola ‘free’ after last patient discharged in June

What the report says

The New York Post reported that Uganda’s health authorities said Tuesday that the country is now “free” of Ebola, after the last known patient was discharged in mid-June and no further transmission was detected. The announcement followed confirmed cases in May that Uganda said were tied to an outbreak across the border in Ituri province in eastern Congo. Local officials said the first Ugandan cases involved Congolese people who entered Uganda seeking care before Ebola was identified.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health said the country’s 2026 outbreak stemmed from a documented importation event, and that identified contacts were quarantined and completed a 21-day monitoring period without signs of additional spread. The Post reported that enhanced surveillance also found no unexplained community transmission. Congo declared its outbreak on May 15, the same day Uganda confirmed two cases, including one fatal case.

Uganda took several containment steps after the May confirmations. President Yoweri Museveni urged people to avoid handshakes, and authorities postponed a major annual religious gathering near Kampala that draws pilgrims from Congo and elsewhere. The Post also reported suspensions of public transportation and flights between Uganda and Congo. Separately, 48 Ugandan doctors were deployed to support response teams in affected areas of Ituri, including Bunia.

The development matters because Ebola remains active in neighboring Congo, where authorities reported 3,262 confirmed cases and 1,437 deaths. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus, for which the Post reported there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Public health officials emphasize contact tracing and isolation because Ebola spreads through bodily fluids or contaminated materials, and insecurity in affected Congolese areas has complicated response efforts.