Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Oceng, announced the end of the country’s eighth Ebola outbreak on April 26, 2025, 42 days after the last case was discharged. The outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, was declared on January 30, 2025, and spread across seven districts and three cities, including Kampala.
The swift response from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), WHO, UNICEF, and partners helped contain the outbreak, despite the absence of approved vaccines or treatments for the Sudan strain. Communities played a key role in stopping the spread by reporting cases and supporting public health measures.
During the outbreak, 14 people were infected, four lost their lives, and ten recovered. Over 530 contacts were identified and monitored. Africa CDC deployed a multidisciplinary team to support Uganda’s response, strengthening coordination, surveillance, infection control, and community engagement.
As Uganda celebrates this milestone, the real challenge lies in sustaining preparedness. Africa CDC is working with Ugandan scientists on a national sero-survey to understand the extent of exposure, and a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices study to improve responses. The agency is also providing emergency supplies and technical assistance to strengthen Uganda’s public health emergency system.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has outlined a post-outbreak management strategy, repurposing isolation centers as training and emergency response hubs, maintaining strong surveillance, and investing in a One Health approach to manage diseases that spill over from animals to humans.
The experience has shown that ending an outbreak is not the end of the fight, but rather the beginning of building stronger, more resilient systems for the next public health emergency. Uganda is advancing Ebola vaccine trials, and a survivors’ care program is ongoing, offering medical care, psychosocial support, and community reintegration.
As Dr. Ocero noted, “Uganda’s journey reminds us that ending an outbreak is not the end of the fight.” The country remains committed to translating this progress into lasting change, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains active and ready to respond to future health threats.
Source: Africa CDC
