Nakasero, Kampala – May 16, 2026 – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni this evening convened an urgent meeting of the national task force on epidemics at his Nakasero office, where he received a briefing on the Ebola situation following the death of a Congolese national in a Kampala hospital.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the President reassured Ugandans that there is no cause for alarm, confirming that the situation has been contained by the Ministry of Health.
"The way forward will be communicated," Museveni said, without providing immediate details on new measures.
According to information provided by Mr. Alan Kasujja, a 26-year-old Congolese man from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crossed the border into Uganda and later died of Ebola on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala.
The patient's body was returned to the DRC on the same day, following established cross-border health protocols.
The Ministry of Health, drawing on experience from past Ebola outbreaks in Uganda, has successfully traced all individuals who came into contact with the deceased patient. These include health workers at Kiruddu Hospital, close relatives, and friends who may have been exposed.
The Ministry expressed confidence that the outbreak has been contained and reiterated that there is no cause for public alarm.
In the unlikely event that a member of the public identifies a person showing Ebola symptoms — including sudden onset of fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, and yellow eyes — the Ministry advises the following precautions:Wash your hands thoroughly,Avoid contact with bodily fluids,Report the case immediately to the nearest health facility
Uganda has faced multiple Ebola outbreaks in the past, most notably in 2000, 2014, 2019, and 2022. The Ministry of Health has developed robust surveillance, contact tracing, and rapid response systems that have consistently contained the virus with support from the World Health Organization and other partners.
Officials continue to monitor border districts for any additional imported cases from the DRC, where Ebola remains endemic in certain regions.
President Museveni indicated that the government will communicate further directives following the task force meeting. For now, health authorities urge calm, vigilance, and strict adherence to hygiene protocols.
As one senior health official put it: "Ebola is not a death sentence when detected early and managed properly. Our systems are working."
The public is encouraged to continue normal activities while observing basic preventive measures and reporting any suspicious symptoms promptly.
