Uganda Declares End to Ebola Outbreak After 42 Days Without New Cases

Uganda’s health minister has officially declared the country Ebola-free, bringing an end to the East African nation’s latest outbreak of the viral haemorrhagic disease that infected 20 people and killed two of them.

Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi made the announcement on Tuesday, July 28, following the successful completion of the mandatory 42-day monitoring period required by the World Health Organization to declare an outbreak over. “The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce that Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola disease outbreak. Today, as we speak, Uganda is Ebola-free,” Baryomunsi told journalists.

The outbreak was first declared on May 15, 2026, after cases were reported following cross-border transmission from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the number of confirmed cases now stands at more than 3,000. Of the 20 confirmed cases in Uganda, 15 were infected in the DRC, with 18 patients discharged and two deaths recorded, both of whom were Congolese nationals. The last Ebola patient in Uganda, a Congolese national, was discharged on June 22, while the last Ugandan national patient was discharged on June 16, triggering the countdown to the declaration.

“Throughout this period the ministry of health maintained intensive surveillance nationwide and no new Ebola cases have been detected,” Baryomunsi said. Officials say Uganda’s many tropical forests that teem with fruit bats, which are natural reservoirs for the virus, make it vulnerable to frequent outbreaks. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue, with symptoms including headache, vomiting of blood, muscle pains and bleeding.

The declaration brings relief to the country’s economy, which had been affected by the outbreak, particularly sectors such as tourism and travel. The outbreak also led to increased travel restrictions, with some countries introducing additional screening measures for travellers from Uganda. Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and continue observing preventive measures to ensure the country maintains its Ebola-free status.

Uganda has suffered multiple outbreaks of Ebola since 2000, when it recorded its first epidemic. Officials say over the years the country gained expertise it has used to bring recent infections under control quickly with limited community spread.

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