Uganda is battling an Ebola outbreak, prompting the United Nations to launch an urgent appeal for $11.2 million. The outbreak has already claimed two lives, and the country’s health system is struggling due to funding cuts after a reduction in U.S. foreign aid.
The outbreak was declared in January in the capital, Kampala. A male nurse at Uganda’s national referral hospital was the first victim. Last week, a four-year-old child also died, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 10. According to Uganda’s health ministry, all cases are linked to the Sudan strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine.
On Tuesday, the United Nations announced that the emergency funds would help fight the outbreak from March to May across seven high-risk districts. “The goal is to swiftly control the outbreak and reduce its impact on public health and the socio-economic lives of affected communities,” said Kasonde Mwinga, Uganda’s representative for the World Health Organization (WHO).
Uganda has long relied on U.S. financial aid for its healthcare system. During the 2022-2023 Ebola outbreak, the U.S. provided $34 million for case management, surveillance, testing, and infection prevention. However, the Trump administration later froze aid, cutting funds that Uganda depended on for its public health system. Government officials say these cuts have weakened the country’s ability to handle health emergencies. Uganda’s Health Ministry spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, was unavailable for comment.
WHO officials warn that the funding gap has forced them to take on additional tasks. Dr. Janet Diaz from WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme told reporters in Geneva that the agency has stepped in to handle critical responsibilities. These include deploying surveillance teams at border crossings and managing biological sample testing—roles that other organizations previously covered.
Ebola is a deadly virus that causes fever, headaches, and muscle pain. It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. Containment measures are critical to stopping further transmission. Ugandan authorities, along with international health agencies, are now working urgently to control the outbreak.