Museveni assures WHO chief of Uganda’s readiness to contain Ebola

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Uganda remains fully prepared to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak, calling for stronger regional cooperation to prevent further spread of the disease.

He made the remarks on Monday, June 8, 2026, during a meeting at State House Entebbe with WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the WHO Uganda country office.

Museveni told the delegation that Uganda had strengthened surveillance systems and response mechanisms, adding that the country was working closely with neighbouring states, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where several cases have originated.

He said cross-border coordination remained central to controlling the outbreak and revealed that he had held discussions with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on joint efforts to curb transmission.

“We have been engaging our counterparts in the DRC to ensure that we work together in addressing this challenge,” President Museveni noted.

Health ministry permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine briefed the meeting on the current situation, confirming that Uganda is managing 19 confirmed Ebola cases.

She said 14 of these cases are members of the same family who entered Uganda from the DRC, but noted that no new cases had been recorded in the previous three days, describing the trend as encouraging.

“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 said.

Dr Atwine also revealed that the health ministry had identified four strategic locations in the DRC near the Uganda border where treatment camps would be established to support local response efforts and reduce cross-border transmission.

She explained that many patients from the DRC continue to seek treatment in Uganda due to trust in the country’s health system and its ability to manage epidemics.

Health minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi said the proposal would strengthen cross-border disease control and reduce movement of patients seeking care across the border.

President Museveni supported the plan, urging that the treatment centres be located as close to the border as possible.

“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.

Museveni also defended the government’s decision to suspend this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, citing public health concerns. The annual event attracts more than three million pilgrims from across Africa and beyond.

He said the suspension was necessary to prevent a potential surge in infections.

Dr Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s decision, describing it as responsible and timely.

“Thank you for stopping the Martyrs Day celebrations. It was going to be a super-spreader event,” Dr Tedros said.

The WHO director-general commended Uganda’s leadership and capacity in managing outbreaks, pledging continued support in logistics, technical expertise and personnel.

He also welcomed Uganda’s plan to establish treatment centres in the DRC, calling it a strong example of regional collaboration, and encouraged continued engagement between Uganda and DRC leadership.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Uganda and WHO in strengthening preparedness, surveillance and response systems against Ebola.