The Ministry of Health has confirmed three new cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Uganda, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to five as authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.
According to a statement issued by the Director General Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro, two of the newly confirmed cases were identified from known contacts who had been under close monitoring following exposure to Uganda’s first confirmed Ebola patient.
The confirmed cases include a Ugandan driver who transported the country’s first Ebola patient and is currently receiving treatment, as well as a Ugandan health worker who contracted the virus while caring for the same patient. She is also undergoing treatment.
The third confirmed case involves a Congolese woman residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who reportedly entered Uganda while experiencing mild abdominal symptoms.
The Ministry said the woman traveled from Arua to Entebbe aboard a chartered flight and later sought medical attention at a private hospital in Kampala on May 10, 2026.
She was treated and discharged in stable condition on May 14 before returning to the DRC. However, health authorities later received a tip-off from the pilot who transported her, prompting surveillance teams to retrieve and test a sample, which subsequently returned positive for Ebola.
The Ministry of Health said all contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified and are currently under close monitoring by response teams to prevent further spread of the disease.
Health officials have urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue observing recommended preventive measures. Members of the public are advised to report any suspected Ebola symptoms to the nearest health facility, emphasizing that early treatment significantly improves chances of survival.
The Ministry further noted that it continues to strengthen surveillance, case management, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns as part of efforts to contain the outbreak and safeguard public health.
