Uganda’s Ministry of Health has assured the public that an Ebola case involving a Congolese national who died in Kampala has been fully contained, with authorities confirming extensive contact tracing and response measures already completed.

In a statement issued on Saturday, May 16, 2026, through the Uganda Media Centre, health officials said a man from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who had crossed into Uganda died of Ebola at a hospital in Kampala on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

The Ministry added that the deceased’s body was returned to the DRC on the same day in line with cross-border health protocols.

“A Congolese man, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who had crossed the border to Uganda, died of Ebola in a Kampala hospital on Thursday, 14th May, 2026. His body was returned to the DRC on the same day,” the statement reads in part.

Contact tracing completed

According to the Ministry, rapid response teams immediately launched investigations and traced all individuals who had come into contact with the patient before his death.

These included health workers, close relatives, and friends who may have been exposed during treatment and care.

Officials said the contact tracing exercise was comprehensive, and ongoing monitoring mechanisms had been activated to prevent any possible spread.

“The Ministry of Health, as it has done many times before, has traced all those who had interacted with him, including health workers, close relatives, and friends,” the Uganda Media Centre Executive Director Alan Kasujja stated.

Situation under control

The Ministry of Health emphasised that there is no cause for public alarm, stating that containment measures had been successfully implemented.

“The Ministry is confident that there is no cause for alarm. The situation has been contained,” the statement read.

Health authorities reiterated that Uganda has strengthened its Ebola surveillance systems following previous outbreaks, enabling faster detection and response to suspected cases.

Despite assurances, the ministry urged members of the public to remain cautious and observe basic preventive measures, especially in border communities and areas with high population movement.

Citizens were advised to watch out for symptoms associated with Ebola, including sudden fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, and yellowing of the eyes.

The public was also encouraged to maintain proper hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, avoiding contact with bodily fluids, and promptly reporting suspected cases to the nearest health facility.

Ebola outbreak in DRC

The developments in Uganda follow an outbreak of Ebola that has killed 65 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to African health officials.

There have been 246 suspected cases of the deadly haemorrhagic fever reported so far in Ituri province, which shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan.

Officials at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said they were concerned about the risk of further spread. The area is home to mining towns where people are constantly coming and going, making infectious disease control challenging.

Ebola is a severe illness with a high fatality rate that spreads through direct contact with body fluids such as the blood or vomit of infected people, or dead bodies, such as during funeral preparations.