Uganda’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has intensified community engagement efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in affected districts.
With support from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies, a coalition including WHO Uganda, the Ministry of Health, Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF), Baylor College of Medicine, and the Joint Mobile Emerging Disease Intervention Clinical Capability (JMEDICC) has trained 117 healthcare workers in key districts. Additionally, over 730 community health workers in eastern Uganda have received training to strengthen outbreak preparedness for Ebola, Mpox, and Marburg.
The initiative aims to enhance early case detection, reporting, and referral while ensuring adherence to infection prevention and control measures. WHO’s teams have been engaging local communities, emphasizing early diagnosis and the importance of proactive health behaviors. Officials highlight the role of boda boda riders as essential community responders, as they frequently transport sick individuals to healthcare facilities.
The outbreak, officially declared on January 30, has seen coordinated efforts to trace contacts, isolate suspected cases, and provide treatment. Eight infected individuals received care at designated treatment centers before being discharged following successful recoveries. However, on February 25, a new Ebola-related death—a young child from Kampala—was reported, prolonging the monitoring period.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has urged Ugandans to remain vigilant, emphasizing that early detection increases survival rates. She also reassured communities that recovered patients are free of the disease and should be reintegrated without stigma.
Uganda Reported 14 Cases
According to Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya, no new Ebola cases have been reported since March 6. Uganda has recorded a total of 14 cases, including four deaths and eight recoveries. Authorities continue to monitor contacts and maintain surveillance efforts to prevent further spread.
Ebola, caused by the Sudan virus, is highly infectious and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials. While there is no approved vaccine for the Sudan strain, early medical intervention significantly improves survival rates.
With ongoing awareness campaigns and strengthened community involvement, Uganda remains committed to containing the outbreak and ensuring public safety.