President Museveni Strengthens Commitment to Contain Ebola as Uganda Reports 19 Confirmed Cases
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed Uganda’s dedication to managing the ongoing Ebola outbreak, highlighting the necessity of regional collaboration and prompt public health measures to curb the disease’s spread. This commitment was articulated during a meeting with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), at State House Entebbe.
Meeting Highlights and Collaborative Efforts
During the meeting, attended by senior officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Health and the WHO Uganda Country Office, President Museveni emphasized that Uganda is on high alert and has implemented comprehensive strategies to contain the outbreak. He noted the importance of working closely with neighboring nations, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where some of the Ebola cases have originated.
The President disclosed that he has engaged in productive discussions with DRC’s President, H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, to enhance cooperation between the two countries in limiting the cross-border transmission of Ebola. He stated, “We have been engaging our counterparts in the DRC to ensure that we work together in addressing this challenge.”
Current Status of the Outbreak
Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, provided an update on the outbreak, reporting that Uganda is currently managing nineteen confirmed cases of Ebola. Fourteen of these cases involve members of the same family who entered Uganda from the DRC. Dr. Atwine expressed optimism regarding containment efforts, noting that no new cases had been reported in the last three days.
“Our surveillance and response teams remain fully engaged. We continue to monitor contacts, strengthen screening measures, and ensure that all suspected cases are promptly identified and managed,” Dr. Atwine stated. She also revealed that the Ministry of Health has identified four strategic locations within the DRC, near the Uganda-DRC border, for establishing medical camps to assist local health authorities in managing Ebola cases.
Establishing Treatment Centers
The proposed treatment and response centers aim to serve communities near the border and reduce the influx of Ebola patients seeking treatment in Uganda. Dr. Atwine explained that many Congolese patients are increasingly turning to Uganda for care due to confidence in the country’s ability to effectively manage public health emergencies. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Health, emphasized the importance of this initiative, asserting that it would bolster cross-border disease control efforts and address the outbreak closer to its source.
Dr. Baryomunsi noted that setting up treatment facilities within the DRC would significantly decrease the cross-border movement of Ebola patients while supporting local response initiatives. President Museveni welcomed this proposal, advising that the treatment centers be located as close to the border as possible to effectively assist vulnerable populations.
“It should be near the border, not far inside the DRC, because we are targeting those who are trying to escape and seek treatment elsewhere,” the President advised.
Suspension of Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations
In light of the outbreak, President Museveni announced the difficult decision to suspend this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, a significant annual religious event that typically attracts over three million pilgrims and visitors from various regions, including the DRC, Tanzania, Kenya, and West Africa. He stated that this suspension is a crucial public health measure aimed at preventing a potential surge in infections.
Dr. Tedros commended Uganda for its decisive actions, describing the suspension of the Martyrs Day celebrations as a courageous and responsible decision. He remarked, “Thank you for stopping the Martyrs Day celebrations. It was going to be a super-spreader event.”
WHO Support and Regional Preparedness
The WHO Director-General praised Uganda’s leadership and its established capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies, referencing the country’s experience in managing previous Ebola outbreaks and other infectious diseases. He pledged the WHO’s continued support through financial resources, logistics, technical expertise, and additional personnel to enhance Uganda’s response efforts.
Dr. Tedros also welcomed Uganda’s innovative strategy of extending support beyond its borders by establishing treatment facilities near affected communities in the DRC. He encouraged President Museveni to maintain engagement with President Tshisekedi and other regional leaders in coordinated efforts to address the outbreak and prevent its spread across the region.
The meeting underscored the strong partnership between Uganda and the WHO in safeguarding public health and demonstrated a shared commitment to enhancing regional preparedness, surveillance, and response mechanisms against Ebola.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-06-10 19:25:00 • By the Editorial Desk
