Uganda has officially declared the end of its most recent Ebola outbreak, marking a major moment in the country’s long and challenging history with the deadly virus. This latest outbreak, driven by the Sudan strain of Ebola virus—a less common but highly dangerous version—was first identified on 30 January 2025, when a male nurse died in the capital city, Kampala. The announcement of the outbreak’s conclusion came on 26 April 2025, after 42 days passed without any new confirmed cases, meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard threshold for declaring the end of an Ebola outbreak.
In total, 14 people were infected during this outbreak, and sadly, four of them died. While the number of cases may seem small, the potential for rapid spread—especially in a densely populated urban setting like Kampala—meant that the stakes were extremely high. Uganda’s swift and coordinated response helped prevent a far worse scenario from unfolding.
A rapid response grounded in experience
This is the ninth time Uganda has faced an Ebola outbreak since 2000, and each one brings new lessons in how to contain and manage a virus that spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and has a high fatality rate. What stood out in this latest response was how quickly health officials acted. The Ministry of Health immediately activated its emergency protocols, setting up national coordination centres and deploying rapid response teams to trace contacts, isolate potential cases, and provide clinical care where needed.
With strong support from WHO and other global health organisations, Uganda was able to mobilise an impressive response in a short amount of time. WHO alone deployed 129 national and international staff to assist with everything from case investigations and laboratory testing to infection control and treatment. In total, over 1,500 laboratory samples were analysed to track the virus and ensure that it hadn’t spread beyond what had been detected.
Community engagement made a critical difference
Containing Ebola also requires public cooperation, especially when it comes to things like contact tracing and safe burial practices—two areas where mistrust and fear can sometimes derail response efforts. Recognising this, Uganda placed strong emphasis on community engagement. Medical teams worked closely with anthropologists to address cultural concerns and explain why certain measures, like avoiding traditional funerals, were necessary to stop the virus.
Public education campaigns were launched to encourage people to report symptoms early and to debunk harmful myths. These efforts helped reduce stigma and made it easier for contact tracers and health workers to do their jobs without resistance. This community-centred approach has become a central part of Uganda’s public health playbook, and it played a big role in the successful containment of this outbreak.
Progress in vaccine and treatment efforts
One of the more remarkable aspects of Uganda’s response was how it managed to launch a clinical trial for Ebola vaccines just days after the outbreak was declared. The Sudan strain of Ebola is particularly challenging because, unlike the Zaire strain, there are currently no approved vaccines specifically for it. Despite that, Ugandan authorities, in coordination with research institutions and global health bodies, initiated a trial within four days—an unprecedented speed. Three experimental vaccines were considered, and the hope is that these trials will pave the way for more robust preventative tools in the future.
On the treatment front, Uganda made use of the MEURI (Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Experimental Interventions) protocol, allowing the use of drugs like Remdesivir, which had shown promise in treating viral infections but had not been fully approved for use against this specific Ebola strain. While this approach doesn’t guarantee success, it offered a vital option for patients who might otherwise have had limited treatment choices.
Vigilance remains essential
The declaration of the outbreak’s end is a major relief, but officials have been quick to stress that the work is far from over. Even with the virus contained for now, there is still the need for ongoing surveillance to catch any possible resurgence. People who have survived Ebola can sometimes carry the virus in bodily fluids for months after recovery, meaning that flare-ups are always a risk.
The Ministry of Health plans to maintain heightened alertness and continue working with WHO to monitor survivors and reinforce health systems, especially in high-risk areas. There will also be support for those who lived through the virus—not just medical care, but mental health support and efforts to rebuild their lives after illness and isolation.
A model for future responses
Uganda’s approach to Ebola has become a blueprint for other countries, particularly those in the region where the disease remains an intermittent threat. The combination of fast action, community involvement, international collaboration, and a willingness to innovate with treatment and vaccine research is what helped end this outbreak quickly. It also reinforced Uganda’s reputation as a country with deep experience in outbreak response.
But even with this success, experts warn that climate change, deforestation, and increasing human encroachment into previously untouched ecosystems mean that diseases like Ebola are not going away any time soon. Future outbreaks are likely, not just in Uganda but across the continent and beyond. Preparing for that means not only investing in emergency response but also in long-term public health infrastructure, research, and community engagement.
Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, WHO’s representative in Uganda, praised the country’s response and highlighted the importance of keeping the pressure on. “The end of this outbreak is a testament to the strength and resilience of Uganda’s health system, but it also reminds us that vigilance is key. We must continue to build on these successes to better prepare for the future,” he said.
Looking ahead with hope
In the meantime, the people of Uganda can breathe a sigh of relief. After months of fear and uncertainty, the virus has been brought under control. The announcement offers hope—not just for Uganda, but for the many nations around the world that will inevitably face similar challenges. With the right tools, partnerships, and public cooperation, outbreaks like these don’t have to spiral into disaster. Uganda’s story proves that.
As the country moves forward, efforts will focus not just on maintaining readiness for another outbreak but also on supporting recovery. Health workers who were on the front lines will need continued training and support. Survivors and their families will require both care and reintegration assistance. And the lessons learned from this outbreak will need to be applied to future planning, ensuring that the next response is even faster, smarter, and more effective.
Uganda’s battle with Ebola isn’t over—but for now, one more chapter has ended on a hopeful note.