The World Health Organization has officially declared Uganda free of Ebola, marking the end of an outbreak that began with imported cases from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. The announcement came on Thursday, 42 days after the last confirmed patient was discharged from care on 16 July 2026, with no further transmission recorded.
In a statement posted on social media, the WHO praised the Ugandan government, health workers, and international partners for their rapid and effective response, noting that the measures taken were crucial in containing the virus and preventing wider spread across the region.
Uganda recorded a total of 20 Ebola cases during this outbreak, nearly all of them individuals who had crossed over from the DRC, where a much larger epidemic continues to rage. Two people died in Uganda, a relatively low fatality rate compared to the devastating toll in the DRC, where more than 5,600 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths have been reported since the outbreak was declared on 15 May.
A cautious approach
Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Health, told national broadcaster NTV that the country had assessed the risk and the entire chain of transmission, and was confident that the virus had been eliminated. However, she acknowledged that the WHO's 42-day waiting period is a standard protocol that must be followed before an official declaration can be made.
“We had assessed the risk, we had assessed the whole chain of transmission and the dynamics of importation of the virus in the country, and we knew that we were free from Ebola,” Atwine said. “However, WHO had to wait because that’s the process. That’s the guideline.”
Atwine also called on countries that imposed travel restrictions on Uganda during the outbreak to lift them immediately, arguing that there is no longer any scientific justification for such measures. “Unless they have other reasons, they should definitely lift the restrictions off the country, and Ugandans should be free to travel to any country,” she said.
The end of the outbreak in Uganda is a relief for the region, but the situation across the border remains dire. The DRC is battling what the WHO has described as the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record, with cases continuing to emerge in several provinces. Uganda has announced plans to open two additional Ebola treatment centres in the DRC, bringing the total to four, as part of its ongoing support to contain the epidemic at its source.
The outbreak has also highlighted the vulnerability of cross-border health systems. Uganda shares an 877-kilometre border with the DRC, and the frequent movement of people between the two countries poses a constant risk of viral spillover. The Red Cross has warned that attacks in the DRC are undermining the Ebola response, complicating efforts to trace contacts and vaccinate at-risk communities.
For European readers, the episode serves as a reminder of the interconnected nature of global health security. European nations have contributed significant funding and expertise to the Ebola response in Central Africa, and the lessons learned from this outbreak will inform future preparedness strategies both in Africa and in Europe, where diseases know no borders.
As Uganda celebrates this milestone, the focus now shifts to the DRC, where the fight against Ebola is far from over. The international community, including the European Union, has pledged continued support to help bring the outbreak under control and prevent further spread across the continent.
