Uganda Enters Final Surveillance Phase After Last Ebola Patient Discharged

Ministry of Health in Uganda outbreak statistics

The Ministry of Health in Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15, 2026. As of July 16, 2026, the country reported a total of 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. Of these infections, 15 were imported from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and five were locally acquired. The breakdown of those affected included 15 Congolese nationals, four healthcare workers, and one driver. No new cases have been reported in Uganda since June 22, 2026, and officials noted that no transmission chains were ever established within the country, resulting in a case-fatality rate of 10%.

Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Health, celebrated the milestone while emphasizing the need for continued caution. It has been two months since we declared the outbreak and we are now celebrating the discharge of the last patient. This shows that Ebola is defeatable if we adhere to measures and establish strong systems, Dr. Baryomunsi stated. He further extended gratitude to the frontline staff, saying, I thank all the teams involved, including the health workers and support staff, for the courage, resilience, professionalism and charisma, working 24 hours a day to provide care.

Dr. Charles Olaro surveillance period warning

Despite the successful discharge, Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, warned against complacency. The response is not over until Uganda completes the required 42-day surveillance period, Dr. Olaro said. Health officials noted that the nature of Ebola outbreaks is such that a single undetected infection could restart transmission and reset the 42-day countdown. To prevent this, surveillance teams, rapid response units, and community health workers remain on high alert across the country.

For more on this story, see DR Congo Ebola Risk Increases Due to Overcrowded Ituri Displacement Sites.

Government spokesperson Alan Kasujja confirmed the final patient was a Congolese national who had recovered and was ready to reunite with his family. Commenting on the transition to the surveillance phase, Kasujja wrote on X, Uganda starts counting down. If 42 days pass without a single new case, WHO guidelines stipulate that we will be declared Ebola free.

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu DRC outbreak assessment

The ongoing outbreak in the DRC remains a significant factor for Ugandan authorities, as the virus remains active in the neighboring nation. While Uganda has successfully managed its cases, the DRC has faced a much larger crisis. As of July 16, 2026, the DRC reported 2,073 confirmed infections and 796 deaths. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO, noted the intensity of the situation in the DRC, stating, Over the last few days, we've seen some of the highest numbers of new infections in a single day. Dr. Ihekweazu described the outbreak as a fire, noting, There's something driving the fire in its heart, and it's also expanding at the same time.

The economic impact of the outbreak has also been a point of concern. Currently, 15 countries have implemented strict travel restrictions on Uganda, which the government argues is hindering the national economy. Dr. Baryomunsi highlighted the government’s efforts to address these barriers: As we make progress in managing this disease, we are engaging and asking those countries with a view to opening up so that the economy does not get injured.

Since the initial declaration of the outbreak, the Ministry of Health, supported by the WHO and various partners, implemented an intensive response strategy. This included rapid case detection, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and control measures, case management, risk communication, community engagement, and cross-border collaboration with the DRC. By July 16, 2026, all 836 identified contacts had been followed up by health teams, marking a completion of the necessary monitoring for those exposed to the virus.