On July 28, 2026, Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi confirmed that Uganda is now Ebola-free. This declaration followed the discharge of the final patient on June 16, 2026, after successful completion of the mandatory 42-day monitoring period with zero new cases. It also comes after the successful completion of all outbreak response measures and confirmation that there has been no further transmission of the virus.

The 2026 Ebola outbreak in Uganda was announced on May 15, 2026, after infected individuals crossed into Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The infection origin was identified, the transmission route was established, all confirmed cases were epidemiologically linked, and every identified contact completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up period without developing the disease. Enhanced surveillance has also found no evidence of undetected community transmission.

A total of 20 people were infected, including 15 Congolese nationals, four Ugandan health workers who contracted the virus while caring for patients, and one driver. While overall 18 people recovered, two sadly succumbed to the virus, leading to a fatality case rate of about 10 per cent.

Dr Baryomunsi attributed the successful containment of Ebola virus to Uganda’s continued investment in public health preparedness, including strengthened laboratory capacity, improved disease surveillance and the dedication of health workers, local leaders, security agencies, partners and communities who worked together throughout the response.

The Minister emphasised that Uganda is now safe for travel, business and tourism. He urged the public to report any suspected Ebola symptoms to the nearest health facility or use the Health Ministry’s toll-free lines and SMS alert system.