Zadock Amanyisa | Tayari News
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health, has activated a quick response to the Ebola outbreak, whose first case was announced by the Ministry’s permanent secretary on Friday, 15th May.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, on Friday confirmed that a 59-year-old Congolese national who had developed signs and received treatment at Kibuli Muslim Hospital had died on Thursday.
“The Ministry of Health has today confirmed an Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak.
The case concerns a 59-year-old Congolese male who was admitted to Kibuli Muslim Hospital on 11th May, 2026. He presented with Respiratory distress, Episodes of fever, epigastric pain, nausea, and challenges in passing urine. While in admission, he deteriorated and died on 14th May, 2026, in Intensive Care Unit (1CU) with bleeding symptoms. The body was reportedly taken at 8 pm back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the same day.”
Dr Atwine said on Friday that after receiving reports of suspected Ebola Disease (EVD) from Public Health Authorities in DRC, the Ministry decided to test an earlier obtained sample from the deceased during his care.
“The sample was taken for testing at the Central Emergency Surveillance and Response Support laboratory in Wandegeya, where it was confirmed as Ebola Bundibugyo. This is an imported case from DRC. The country has not yet confirmed a local case.”
The Ministry of Health has since then deployed screening, surveillance, and rapid response readiness teams at official and informal points of entry, especially along the western border, major transit routes, and pilgrimage corridors, activated response at National Level and in high-risk districts, including deployment of mobile laboratory in Bwera Hospital, isolation arrangements, infection prevention and control, and risk communication, and isolated one high risk contact who is a close relative to the deceased.
Currently quarantining all the contacts who came into contact with the index case, Dr Atwine said the Ministry remained fully engaged and will continue to provide timely updates while implementing all necessary measures to protect the people of Uganda.
“The Ministry of Health urges all health workers to have the highest index of suspicion and maintain heightened safety precautions. Private clinics are encouraged to observe the Standard Operating Procedures and report any suspected case to the nearest district health authorities for further investigations and management.” Said Dr. Atwine
The public has been urged to avoid physical contact with anyone showing the above symptoms, continue with washing hands and maintain good hand hygiene at all times. “Avoid contact with body fluids that include urine, blood, sweat, saliva, vomitus, and stool. In case you or your colleague develops any of the symptoms of Ebola virus disease, you are advised to seek appropriate health care services immediately.”
The Ministry also guided that handling of dead bodies suspected to have Ebola-like symptoms should be supervised by the health team and undergo a safe and dignified burial to prevent further spread within the communities, adding that all public places in the country should institute hand-washing facilities at their premises.
The Uganda Media Centre Executive Director, Alan Kasujja said on Saturday that there was no cause for alarm, arguing that the situation had been contained.
About Ebola
Ebola is a viral, acute disease that can turn fatal if left untreated. It is transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, or porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest, human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, and objects that have been contaminated with body fluids (like blood, feces, vomit) from a person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola.
Ebola symptoms include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, and yellowing of the eyes. Bleeding manifestation is usually a late presentation after the above symptoms.