WHO, Africa CDC declare Uganda Ebola-free after 42-day countdown

What the report says

Uganda has been declared free of Ebola after completing 42 days without a new confirmed case, according to Nile Post, which reported that the country has now closed its Bundibugyo virus outbreak. The countdown began after the last patient was discharged on July 16 and tested negative twice, meeting the international benchmark used to confirm that transmission has stopped.

The outbreak was announced in Uganda on May 15, 2026, after cases linked to the ongoing situation in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo were detected. Nile Post reported that Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases in total, including imported infections and local transmission among contacts and health workers. Eighteen people recovered and two died. More than 800 contacts were monitored during the response.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s handling of the outbreak, while Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya said the country’s response showed the value of decisive leadership and trusted community engagement. Both organisations stressed that the regional risk remains because Ebola is still active in DRC, which has close cross-border movement with Uganda.

The report said health authorities should keep up surveillance, testing, infection prevention and rapid response capacity rather than rely on broad travel restrictions. In broader public health terms, the declaration is significant because it shows Uganda has interrupted transmission, while also underscoring the need to maintain preparedness against future imported cases.