KAMPALA, Uganda
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is in Uganda, where he has praised the government’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
During his visit, Dr. Tedros praised Uganda’s “rapid and effective” handling of the situation, noting the country’s preparedness, coordination, and strong surveillance systems in managing the public health threat.
Dr. Tedros’ visit comes as Uganda continues to monitor and respond to Ebola alerts linked to cross-border transmission from eastern DRC, a region that has experienced repeated outbreaks of the highly infectious disease.
The WHO Director-General is expected to meet health officials, government leaders, and outbreak response teams involved in containment efforts.
Uganda’s health system has in recent years strengthened its Ebola preparedness through surveillance at border points, rapid testing, contact tracing, and isolation protocols measures that have been activated in the current monitoring phase.
Health authorities say the current alert is linked to cases reported in eastern DRC, where Ebola outbreaks have occurred repeatedly due to close human movement, trade, and interaction across the border with Uganda.
WHO has repeatedly warned that such cross-border mobility increases the risk of transmission, making regional cooperation between Uganda and the DRC critical in controlling outbreaks.
In a related development, authorities in Kasese District have confirmed that 41 suspected Ebola cases tested negative after comprehensive laboratory analysis.
According to the Resident District Commissioner, Joe Walusimbi, there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in the district.
“There is no cause for alarm because Kasese is 100% safe. We have no case of Ebola,” Walusimbi said.
The clarification is expected to ease public concern in the district, which had been placed under heightened surveillance following alerts of suspected infections.
Health officials say Uganda remains on high alert despite the negative test results, emphasizing the importance of early detection and rapid response to any suspected cases.
WHO continues to support Uganda’s Ministry of Health in strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms, particularly in high-risk border districts.
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