President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak, rallying stronger regional cooperation and cross-border action to prevent further spread.

During talks with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at State House Entebbe on Monday, June 8th, 2026, the President highlighted Uganda’s proactive response and collaboration with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where several linked cases originated.

Uganda has intensified efforts to contain Ebola, with President Museveni assuring the World Health Organization (WHO) that the country remains vigilant and prepared to stop the outbreak.

He said Uganda is working closely with neighboring countries, particularly the DRC, to strengthen surveillance and response measures.

Speaking on cross-border cooperation, Museveni revealed that he had already engaged DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on joint efforts to curb the disease.

“We have been engaging our counterparts in the DRC to ensure that we work together in addressing this challenge,” he said.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, briefed the meeting on the current situation, reporting 19 confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda. Fourteen of those cases involve members of the same family who entered the country from the DRC.

She noted that containment efforts are yielding positive results, with no new Ebola cases recorded over the previous three days.

“Our surveillance and response teams remain fully engaged. We continue to monitor contacts, strengthen screening measures, and ensure that all suspected cases are promptly identified and managed,” Atwine noted.

To strengthen prevention efforts, Uganda plans to establish treatment and response camps at four strategic locations near the Uganda-DRC border. The facilities are intended to support local health authorities and reduce the number of Ebola patients crossing into Uganda for treatment.

Backing the proposal, President Museveni emphasized that the centers should be located close to border communities to maximize their impact.

“It should be near the border, not far inside the DRC, because we are targeting those who are trying to escape and seek treatment elsewhere,” he said.

The President also defended the government’s decision to suspend this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, a gathering that typically attracts millions of pilgrims from Uganda and across Africa.

Ghebreyesus praised the move, describing it as a bold public health measure that likely prevented wider transmission.

“Thank you for stopping the Martyrs Day celebrations. It was going to be a super-spreader event,” he stated.

Ghebreyesus commended Uganda’s leadership and experience in handling public health emergencies and pledged continued WHO support through funding, logistics, technical expertise, and personnel.

He also welcomed Uganda’s plan to extend Ebola response efforts closer to affected communities in the DRC and urged continued regional collaboration to prevent the disease from spreading further.