UGANDA IS NOW EBOLA FREE

What the report says

The Independent Uganda, citing URN, reported that Uganda’s Ministry of Health has declared the country free of Ebola after containing an outbreak linked to imported cases from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi announced the decision on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre, saying no further Ebola cases or unexplained community spread had been recorded since the last confirmed patient left care on June 16, 2026.

According to the ministry figures reported by The Independent, the outbreak was first declared on May 15, 2026. It involved 20 infections: 15 Congolese nationals, four health workers and one driver. Two people died and 18 recovered. Baryomunsi said the 2026 episode differed from earlier outbreaks because officials were able to identify the source, map the route of introduction, link all confirmed cases epidemiologically and complete follow-up for quarantined contacts without detecting further transmission.

Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine credited containment efforts including contact tracing, institutional quarantine and cooperation with authorities in the DRC. State Minister for Primary Health Care Dr Charles Ayume thanked national and district response teams, health workers, partners, the media, communities and the DRC for cross-border collaboration.

The report said Uganda used the Public Health Act and International Health Regulations to support emergency response teams, surveillance, testing and quarantine. Baryomunsi also noted that although the World Health Organization’s 42-day period is the usual benchmark for ending most Ebola outbreaks, officials considered an earlier declaration justified because the importation and transmission chains were fully characterised. The ministry said border surveillance, survivor support and preparedness measures will continue, especially as the DRC faces a larger Ebola outbreak.