Ministry of Health has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola Disease outbreak after completing the mandatory 42-day monitoring period without recording any new infections.
Addressing the media in Kampala Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said that the country is now Ebola-free, marking the successful containment of an outbreak that was first confirmed on May 15, 2026, following the importation of cases from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The 42-day countdown began after the discharge of the last locally transmitted Ebola patient on June 16, 2026. Throughout the monitoring period, the Ministry of Health maintained intensive nationwide surveillance, with no additional cases detected.
According to the minister Uganda recorded a total of 20 confirmed Ebola cases during the outbreak. Of these, 18 patients recovered, while two people died. Fifteen of the confirmed cases were imported from the DRC, while the remaining five were Ugandan health workers and caregivers who contracted the virus while caring for infected patients.
Baryomunsi revealed that the outbreak differed from previous Ebola epidemics because it resulted from a fully documented importation event. Authorities were able to identify the source of infection, establish the route of introduction, link all confirmed cases epidemiologically, reconstruct transmission chains, and ensure all identified contacts completed the mandatory 21-day quarantine without any unexplained community transmission.
He however emphasized that the traditional 42-day criterion remains an important public health safeguard. However, it noted that outbreaks arising from fully characterised imported events, where transmission chains are conclusively closed, may increasingly rely on comprehensive epidemiological evidence alongside the standard waiting period.
The Ministry attributed Uganda’s successful response to sustained government investment in strengthening the country’s public health system, including improved disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, contact tracing, treatment facilities and community engagement.
He further commended frontline health workers, district local governments, Village Health Teams, security agencies, researchers, development partners, the media and communities for their contribution to containing the outbreak.
Despite declaring the outbreak over, the Ministry warned that Ebola remains a regional threat because transmission continues in neighbouring DRC.
Uganda has therefore maintained heightened surveillance at border points, strengthened rapid response teams and continues working closely with districts across the country to detect and respond quickly to any suspected cases.
As part of regional efforts to stop the spread of the disease, Uganda and the DRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a joint cross-border Ebola response. Under the arrangement, Uganda has established two mobile laboratories and an 80-bed Ebola Treatment Unit in Aru and Kasenyi in eastern DRC to help contain the outbreak at its source.
The Ministry appealed to communities, particularly those living near the border, to remain vigilant and report any illegal border crossings or suspected Ebola cases to the nearest health facility or through the toll-free line 0800100066 or 6767
The government also reassured Ugandans, visitors, investors and the international community that the country is safe, its health system remains on high alert, and Uganda is open for business, tourism and all socio-economic activities
