**World Health Organization Declares Uganda Free of Ebola Outbreak**
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Uganda free of Ebola, following the completion of a mandatory 42-day monitoring period without any new cases. This announcement was made during a joint news conference held on August 26, 2026, with Uganda's Ministry of Health.
The declaration comes approximately one month after Uganda's Health Ministry had internally assessed the situation and determined that the outbreak was over. Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary for Uganda’s Health Ministry, stated that the country had thoroughly evaluated the risk and transmission dynamics of the virus, concluding that they were free from Ebola. "However, WHO had to wait because that’s the process. That’s the guideline," she explained.
During the outbreak, Uganda reported a total of 20 confirmed Ebola infections, with the last case recorded on June 21. Tragically, two individuals succumbed to the virus during this period. The last patient was discharged from the Mulago National Referral Isolation Centre on July 16, and the Health Ministry formally announced the end of the outbreak on July 28.
In light of the successful containment of the virus, Atwine urged countries that had imposed travel restrictions on Uganda to lift them, emphasizing that Ugandans should be free to travel without hindrance.
While Uganda has successfully navigated this health crisis, the situation in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains dire. As of August 25, confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC have surged to 5,656, with a reported increase of 72 cases from the previous day. The outbreak has resulted in 2,715 deaths, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Ituri province, located in the northeast of the DRC, is currently the epicenter of this outbreak, with over 4,700 infections reported.
Given the geographical proximity of Uganda and the DRC, which share a border exceeding 877 kilometers (approximately 500 miles), the WHO has emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating the virus. Kasonde Mwinga, the WHO’s representative for Uganda, noted that the country is enhancing treatment and laboratory capabilities at two sites within the DRC, specifically in Aru and Kasenyi—both of which are part of the Ituri province.
In a proactive response to the ongoing situation, Uganda has announced plans to establish two additional Ebola treatment centers in the DRC, bringing the total number of such facilities to four. This initiative aims to bolster the regional response to the outbreak.
On August 25, Ugandan and Congolese officials convened in Kampala to discuss a bilateral memorandum of understanding focused on cross-border health security. Kenneth Akiiri, the undersecretary for Uganda’s Health Ministry, called for increased resources from the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "When you are vulnerable and you have little resources, you are supposed to raise an alarm for help," he stated.
Adelard Lufungula, the head of the DRC delegation, echoed the call for urgent action, emphasizing the need to combat Ebola with a sense of urgency akin to a war. "We want to fight Ebola like a war," he declared, highlighting the critical nature of the ongoing health crisis in the DRC.
As Uganda celebrates its successful containment of the Ebola outbreak, the focus shifts to the DRC, where health officials and international organizations continue to work diligently to manage and mitigate the spread of the virus. The collaboration between Uganda and the DRC serves as a vital model for regional health security and response efforts in the face of infectious disease outbreaks.