The Government of Japan has announced an emergency grant of $500,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to strengthen Ebola response efforts in Uganda, as the country works towards containing the ongoing outbreak and prevent further spread.
according to to officials ,the funding will support the Uganda Red Cross Society to scale up lifesaving interventions in affected and high-risk areas, including community engagement, surveillance, and frontline public health response.
Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General of Uganda Red Cross Society, said:
“We deeply appreciate Japan’s timely and generous support during this critical period. This funding will significantly strengthen our capacity to contain Ebola, protect communities, and deliver lifesaving assistance to those most at risk. It reflects the strength of our partnership and shared commitment to saving lives.”
“With support from IFRC, Uganda Red Cross volunteers are already mobilized in communities to raise awareness about Ebola prevention, counter misinformation, and promote early care-seeking for suspected symptoms. The new funding will enable expanded outreach and intensified response activities at a critical moment in the outbreak,”he added
According to Kwesiga the support will scale up community-based response like
community awareness campaigns to promote safe practices and dispel misinformation,deployment of trained volunteers for contact tracing and monitoring of suspected cases and support to treatment and isolation centres in high-risk areas
it will also be used for provision of psychosocial support to affected individuals and families and strengthen surveillance and early warning systems to detect new cases
he further said that the Japan-funded response highlights the importance of international solidarity in addressing public health emergencies and reinforces the longstanding partnership between Japan, the Uganda Red Cross Society, and IFRC.
meanwhile Uganda Red Cross continues to play a central role in the national Ebola response, working closely with government health authorities to deliver community-based interventions and support frontline health services.
Louise Daintrey-Hall, IFRC Head of Country Office, Uganda, said:
“ Ebola outbreaks begin and end in communities, and it is Red Cross volunteers who stand at the heart of this response. Japan’s contribution will strengthen the Uganda Red Cross to scale up lifesaving work, helping communities protect themselves and stop the spread of Ebola.”
The Government of Japan’s support reflects the importance of multilateral collaboration in advancing global health security and strengthening preparedness and response capacities in vulnerable regions.
As the outbreak evolves, sustained funding and coordinated action remain critical to expanding surveillance, supporting frontline responders, and ensuring communities are equipped with the tools and information needed to prevent further spread.
uganda has implemented arapid globally praised and comprehensive response to the recent Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Working with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health has effectively contained spillover infections. The strategy relies on aggressive contact tracing, active community sensitization, and widespread monitoring at regional borders
Uganda and the DRC have launched a joint Ebola response, conducting high-level ministerial meetings to align on data sharing and synchronized containment strategies
Permanent Secretary Ministry of of Health Dr Diana Atwine says U.S. government, World Bank, and Japan are actively supporting local infrastructure with millions in emergency funding for frontline health workers and contact tracing.
according to her Officials have deployed over 100 screeners and data clerks to 13 border points to monitor travelers and track potential infections.
