The Ministry of Health has confirmed three new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to five.
In a statement dated Saturday, the Director General of Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro at the ministry said the new infections include a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a Congolese citizen.
The driver transported the first confirmed case and is currently receiving treatment.
The health worker was exposed while caring for the same patient and is also receiving treatment.
Both cases were identified through contact tracing among known contacts under follow-up.
The third case is a Congolese woman resident in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She entered Uganda from the DRC with mild abdominal symptoms and travelled from Arua to Entebbe via chartered flight.
She later sought care at a private hospital in Kampala on May 10, 2026, and was discharged in good condition on May 14. She subsequently returned to the DRC.
Following a tip-off from the pilot who transported her, surveillance teams traced her, collected samples, and confirmed Ebola infection.
All contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified and are under close monitoring by response teams.
The Ministry urged the public to remain vigilant and follow preventive measures as containment efforts continue.
“The Ministry of Health urges all members of the public to remain calm, vigilant, and continue observing all recommended preventive measures,” the statement read.
“Report any suspected Ebola symptoms immediately to the nearest health facility. Early treatment greatly improves chances of survival.”
A team from the Ministry of Health led by Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine is expected to meet counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Health on Saturday, according to the Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, Alan Kasujja.
Kasujja confirmed the engagement as part of ongoing regional coordination efforts, adding that a communique will be signed.
The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jean Kaseya, who will also attend the meeting, met President Museveni at State House on Friday, where discussions focused on the Ebola situation in the region and the need for a coordinated African response.
Uganda has also suspended flights, border transport, and weekly markets in high-risk border districts following confirmation of imported cases linked to the outbreak in eastern DRC.
Uganda Airlines has suspended its Entebbe–Kinshasa flights effective Saturday, 23 May 2026, until further notice, citing ongoing public health interventions.
Authorities also reported an earlier case involving a Congolese national who travelled into Uganda and later died at Kibuli Hospital. The other was treated and has since tested negative.
The World Health Organisation subsequently declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.
The United States Embassy in Kampala also announced a temporary suspension of all visa operations in Uganda.
President Museveni has also moved to reduce mass gatherings, including the cancellation of this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations, as part of precautionary measures to limit transmission risk.
Further updates are expected as surveillance, contact tracing, and regional coordination efforts continue.
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