Health minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi on Thursday received a certificate of recognition from the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) for Uganda’s successful response to the 2026 Ebola outbreak.
The Ministry of Health said the award recognises the country’s efforts in interrupting transmission of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus and completing 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case.
The certificate, signed by WHO Africa Regional Director Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi and dated August 26, 2026, commends Uganda’s national leadership, frontline health workers, communities and partners for ending the outbreak that began in May.
Background
Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15 after confirming an imported case from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country recorded 20 confirmed cases, of whom 18 recovered and two died.
The last confirmed patient was discharged from the Mulago National Referral Isolation Centre on July 16. The Government declared the outbreak over on July 28, saying all transmission chains had been traced and contacts monitored.
WHO later confirmed the outbreak was over after the country completed the required 42-day period without a new case, the global standard for declaring an Ebola outbreak ended.
Health officials say the virus was imported from eastern DRC, where a much larger Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is still active, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases and more than 2,700 deaths reported.
Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine has said Uganda will maintain border screening and surveillance, and has called on countries that imposed travel restrictions during the outbreak to lift them now that the 42-day period has been completed.
The ministry said vigilance will continue because of the risk of new imported cases from the neighbouring outbreak.
