Uganda has heightened national surveillance and emergency preparedness following a rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where health authorities have confirmed the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The outbreak, officially declared in mid-May 2026, is centered in Ituri Province near the borders of Uganda and South Sudan and has already become the DRC’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since 1976.
According to regional health agencies, between 246 and 336 suspected cases and up to 88 deaths have so far been reported, with figures continuing to rise as investigations and laboratory confirmations expand.
Health experts say the outbreak is particularly concerning because it involves the Bundibugyo ebolavirus a rare strain for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments, unlike the Zaire strain that has previously been contained using vaccination campaigns.
Authorities believe the outbreak may have gone undetected for weeks or even months in remote and conflict-affected mining communities, complicating efforts to trace contacts and isolate infections early.
The Ministry of Health has already confirmed at least one imported Ebola-related death involving a 59 year old Congolese national who reportedly crossed into Uganda from the affected region.
In response to the growing threat, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday evening chaired an urgent meeting of the National Epidemics Task Force at the Presidential offices in Nakasero, Kampala, to assess Uganda’s readiness and review containment measures.
Government officials say surveillance at border points has been intensified, emergency response teams activated, and public health monitoring strengthened across high-risk districts bordering the DRC.
Addressing concerns over the outbreak, President Museveni reassured the public that the situation remains under control and urged citizens to remain vigilant without causing panic.
Regional and international health bodies have since escalated response efforts. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention convened an emergency coordination meeting involving Uganda, DRC, South Sudan, and global health partners to strengthen cross-border surveillance and preparedness.
The World Health Organization has also declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, deploying response teams to support contact tracing, screening, safe burials, and community awareness campaigns.
Despite growing fears online and renewed anxiety following previous health emergencies, experts continue to stress that Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with bodily fluids and does not transmit easily through the air like respiratory viruses.
Health officials are urging the public to observe hygiene protocols, avoid contact with suspected cases, and immediately report symptoms such as fever, bleeding, vomiting, and severe weakness to medical authorities.
