Uganda has no Ebola cases, Minister of Health Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi said in a statement issued on 25 October, but he warned that the risk has not gone away while transmission continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The minister said all 60 contacts monitored in Uganda in connection with the recent Kenyan traveller’s Ebola Virus Disease case have completed 21 days of follow-up and been discharged. They included staff at points of entry and exit, hotel workers and transport operators linked to the traveller’s movements. None developed signs or symptoms of the disease.
Uganda confirmed an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease on 15 May 2026, after DRC nationals seeking care in Ugandan hospitals brought the virus across the border. The Ministry declared the outbreak over on 28 July 2026, and no confirmed case has been recorded since.
“The end of local transmission does not mean the risk has ended,” Dr Baryomunsi said, pointing to the shared border with the DRC and the trade, travel and family ties between communities.
On the Nigerian Ebola case, he said investigations are continuing with Nigerian health authorities and international agencies. They are reviewing genomic sequence findings and checking the traveller’s movements and contacts in Uganda and on the way to Abuja. The findings will be shared with the public later. He also said Kasese has no confirmed Ebola cases and has recorded no deaths from the disease.
Border and travel measures
Screening has been stepped up at Entebbe International Airport, all land border crossings and designated road checkpoints. Every traveller entering Uganda by air, land or water must complete the Passenger Locator Form and be screened by Port Health. The minister said there are no exemptions, including for diplomats and United Nations personnel.
Under the National Task Force resolutions of May 2026, movement along the Uganda–DRC border is restricted to essential travellers such as humanitarian workers and truck drivers. Non-essential DRC nationals will be returned at their own cost. Returning Ugandans with a history of travel to the DRC will spend 21 days in quarantine at their own cost. Anyone with DRC travel history may not transit through Uganda by any means, including chartered flights.
Listed contacts of an active case will be placed on a no-fly list until they finish 21 days of follow-up. People who evade screening, conceal information or breach quarantine face enforcement action, including prosecution under the Public Health Act, as amended. Security agencies working under Resident District Commissioners will support health authorities in enforcing the measures.
Support inside the DRC
Ugandan teams are working in Aru, Kasenyi and Butembo alongside Congolese health authorities. They have set up three treatment units with 240 beds in total, and a fourth will open at Bulongo by Wednesday to serve communities including Kasindi. More than 120 personnel have been deployed.
According to the Ministry’s figures, the three units have cared for 127 confirmed patients: 58 in Aru, 40 in Kasenyi and 44 in Butembo. Between 15% and 17.7% of confirmed patients at the three sites died, against the reported national figure of 48.2% in the DRC.
Mobile laboratories have cut the wait for results from four to five days to about four to six hours, with capacity for up to 2,200 tests a day across the three sites. At Kasenyi, about 48% of confirmed cases were found through outpatient screening after more than 950 visits. Uganda has also trained 748 Congolese health workers in 150 facilities.
The minister said Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Sudan, deployed technical teams to the Central African Republic and is working with Rwanda on preparedness.
“Uganda has demonstrated that Ebola can be contained, but no country can remain safe while transmission continues across its borders,” he said. He urged partners and regional governments to keep essential services running in the DRC, including routine immunisation and maternal health care.
The public can reach the Ministry of Health on the toll-free line 0800-100-066, by SMS on 6767 or through U-Report on 8500.
