ENTEBBE, Uganda: 08 JUNE 2026— President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s unwavering commitment and readiness to tackle the ongoing Ebola outbreak, calling for tightened regional collaboration to halt the virus’s spread.
The assurance was made during a high-level meeting at State House Entebbe with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The strategic meeting was also attended by senior technical officials from both the Ministry of Health and the WHO Uganda Country Office.
Swift Action Against ‘Super-Spreader’ Threat
The Ebola outbreak was declared in the region this month with its epicenter in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC. As part of Uganda’s robust and immediate public health interventions, the President announced the suspension of the annual Martyrs Day celebrations. The massive annual religious event on June 03, typically draws upwards of three million pilgrims and global visitors from Tanzania, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), West Africa, and beyond.
Dr. Tedros highly commended the decision, labeling the suspension a “courageous and responsible” move.
“Thank you for stopping the Martyrs Day celebrations. It was going to be a super-spreader event,” Dr. Tedros told President Museveni during the briefing.
Strengthening Border and Regional Strategy
The President informed the visiting delegation that Uganda remains highly vigilant. Robust domestic measures have been deployed to contain the virus within its borders, paired with intensive cross-border cooperation. Uganda is working directly with neighboring countries—particularly the DRC, where several of the current cases originated.
In an innovative public health move, Uganda has extended its frontline defense beyond its own borders by establishing dedicated treatment facilities closer to the affected communities inside the DRC. Dr. Tedros praised this proactive approach and encouraged President Museveni to maintain continuous diplomatic and operational engagement with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and other regional leaders.
Global Support and Commendation
The WHO chief lauded Uganda’s historical leadership and proven institutional capacity to effectively manage major public health emergencies, pointing to the nation’s extensive experience with previous Ebola outbreaks and infectious disease control.
To reinforce Uganda’s current containment operations, Dr. Tedros pledged the World Health Organization’s continued and comprehensive backing. The international agency will provide:
Financial Resources to fund frontline operations, Logistical Support for medical supply chains, Technical Expertise to guide epidemiological response, and Additional Personnel to strengthen on-the-ground response teams.
Both leadership teams concluded with a mutual agreement that swift, unified regional action remains the most critical factor in completely neutralizing the outbreak.
