Uganda's Ministry of Health declared the country Ebola-free on Tuesday, July 29, 2026 [2], following a 42-day monitoring period with no new infections [1].
This declaration marks the successful containment of a viral outbreak that threatened public health in East Africa. The announcement follows World Health Organization protocols to ensure the virus is no longer circulating within the population before officially closing an outbreak.
The monitoring period began after the last patient was discharged in mid-June 2026 [3]. According to government data, the outbreak resulted in 17 total recoveries [4] and two deaths [5]. At one point during the response, officials reported one isolation case [6].
"The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce that Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola Disease outbreak," the ministry said [7].
Health authorities maintained strict surveillance over the past six weeks to confirm the absence of new cases. The 42-day window is a standard safety margin based on the maximum incubation period of the virus, ensuring that no undetected infections remain in the community [1].
While Uganda has reached this milestone, regional health officials continue to monitor the situation in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the struggle against the virus persists [2]. The Ugandan government said that its containment strategy relied on rapid identification and isolation of patients to prevent wider community transmission.
“Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola Disease outbreak.”
Uganda's ability to contain the 2026 outbreak with only two deaths suggests a high level of readiness and effective rapid-response infrastructure. However, the continued presence of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo means the region remains at risk of re-importation, requiring Uganda to maintain its surveillance systems despite the official end of this specific outbreak.
