WHO Uganda

Pour une coordination régionale renforcée contre #Ebola. Une réunion transfrontalière de la riposte à Ebola s’est tenue à #Kampala, 22-23 mai, avec des responsables gouvernementaux & des partenaires afin de consolider la collaboration, la préparation & l’efficacité de la réponse.

Face aux risques liés aux épidémies, des actions clés ont été adoptées: 🔹Surveillance transfrontalière renforcée 🔹Protection des communautés vulnérables 🔹Meilleure prise en charge clinique 🔹Coordination et financement accrus 🔹Solidarité régionale renforcée #SécuritéSanitaire

@WHOUganda sincerely appreciates @UKinUganda for supporting the #AVoHC SURGE (African Volunteer Health Corps for Surveillance, Response and Global Emergencies) initiative, enabling rapid deployment of trained experts for the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo Disease outbreak. @LisaJChesney, British High Commissioner in Uganda during the High-Level Ministerial Meeting reiterated £ 20 Million support for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), £1 Million contribution to WHO in DRC and approximately £ 1 Million for WHO Uganda and Baylor for the ongoing outbreak response which builds on our previous investments in WHO AFRO and Africa CDC. It is expected to further strengthen cross-border Ebola coordination, surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement. Together, we stand united to protect communities, save lives, and reinforce regional solidarity in responding to the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo Disease outbreak. #EVD #HealthSecurity #Solidarity #Leadership #Coordination @WHO @OMSRDCONGO @anne_anciiaWHO @KasondeMwinga @karamagih

The Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the @WHOAFRO Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, has urged ministers attending the high-level meeting on Cross-Border Coordination on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Kampala to sustain strong, continuous cross-border collaboration efforts. She emphasized that robust preparedness saves time, and in outbreaks, time saves lives. She further stressed the urgent need to strengthen cross-border surveillance systems, noting that response delays can have serious consequences. Dr. Belizaire underscored the critical role of local leadership in outbreak response and highlighted the importance of empowering border surveillance teams and ensuring real-time communication. She also noted that the outbreak is a clear reminder that diseases do not respect national borders, underscoring the need for sustained political commitment. She emphasized that cross-border collaboration is not optional but a fundamental pillar of effective disease outbreak control. Describing the meeting as an opportunity to move from agreements to concrete implementation, Dr. Belizaire called for cross-border collaboration to be institutionalized as a continuous practice. She encouraged participants to use the platform to strengthen cross-border operations and commended the extraordinary efforts of frontline health workers responding to the outbreak. #EbolaRDC #Outbreak #Uganda

@WHOAFRO, led by the WHO Regional Emergency Director (RED), together with WHO Representatives from DRC, South Sudan and Uganda, comes together with the Incident Management Team in Kampala with a shared commitment to strengthen cross-border Ebola coordination, standing united to protect communities, save lives, and reinforce regional solidarity in support of our Member States to response to the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo Disease. #EVD #HealthSecurity #Solidarity #Leadership #Coordination

Ambassadors, heads of UN agencies, and development partners meeting today for a briefing on the current Ebola outbreak in Uganda have agreed to align on a unified response framework: one plan, one budget, one monitoring and evaluation system, and one communication strategy. Diplomatic missions committed to regularly update their headquarters based on official information provided by the Government. They commended the Government’s transparency and the overall quality of the response, following a detailed technical briefing. Participants emphasized the need for sustained regional engagement to ensure a coordinated cross-border response with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They further stressed that vigilance must be maintained throughout the outbreak and until Ebola is fully contained in Uganda and DRC. #PHEIC #Ebolaoutbreak

Today, @WHO Representative in Uganda, @KasondeMwinga Mwinga, addressed ambassadors accredited to Uganda on the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. She commended the Ministry of Health's strong leadership in managing the outbreak and reaffirmed that WHO’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern underscores the need for a robust, coordinated national and international response. Uganda’s resilience, experience, and people-centred approach remain vital strengths in containing the outbreak. Priority actions include strengthening surveillance, scaling up contact tracing, enhancing infection prevention and control, expanding diagnostic capacity, and reinforcing cross-border coordination. Equally critical is building and sustaining community trust, ensuring timely, accurate information, active participation, and early care-seeking. This is not Uganda’s challenge alone; it is a shared responsibility. All partners, including the diplomatic community, must mobilize timely, flexible support to sustain response efforts and protect vulnerable populations. Together, with urgency, alignment, and solidarity, we can contain the outbreak, prevent further spread, and safeguard health security across the region and beyond. Now is the time to act, swiftly, collectively, and decisively. @MinofHealthUG #Ebolaoutbreak #Uganda

Following the declaration of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda, and its designation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by @WHO, the @MinofHealthUG has developed a comprehensive response plan to guide coordinated interventions. The plan is aimed at rapidly interrupting transmission of the Bundibugyo strain of EVD, reducing morbidity and mortality, and minimizing associated social and economic disruption. Specific objectives of the response plan are to: ✓Rapidly detect, isolate, and manage all suspected and confirmed cases ✓Strengthen risk communication and community engagement to promote public awareness and trust ✓Enhance data management systems to ensure the timely availability of information for public health action ✓Provide quality care and treatment for all cases while ensuring the safety of health workers and communities ✓Ensure the availability and efficient management of essential supplies and logistics ✓Maintain and strengthen the continuity of essential health services Implementation Arrangements: Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the response plan will be implemented through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach structured around the following operational pillars: ✓Surveillance ✓Laboratory services ✓Case management (including Infection Prevention and Control, safe and dignified burials, and psychosocial support) ✓Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ✓Risk communication, public health awareness, and community engagement ✓Logistics and supply chain management ✓Continuity of essential health services ✓Vaccination To ensure effective and timely implementation of this response plan, both local and international financial support is being mobilized to rapidly contain the outbreak and mitigate its public health and socio-economic impact. #Ebola #Outbreak #PHEIC

@WHO has confirmed that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, but not a pandemic. This underscores the need for urgent, coordinated action, without triggering global panic. Consequently, @WHO has recommended the following measures for immediate implementation in Uganda and the DRC: ✓Activate emergency response systems and establish strong coordination through national and local operations centres. Key actions include enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, testing, infection prevention, and effective patient care. Collaboration with partners remains critical if national systems become overwhelmed. ✓Engage communities actively by working with local leaders, faith groups, and traditional healers to raise awareness, build trust, and promote early care-seeking. Respectfully addressing cultural beliefs is essential to interrupt transmission. ✓Strengthen surveillance systems across affected and at-risk areas, including monitoring community deaths and expanding decentralized laboratory testing capacity. ✓Improve infection prevention and control (IPC) in health facilities by training staff on proper PPE use and ensuring health workers are protected, supported, and adequately resourced. ✓Ensure timely referral of suspected cases to specialized treatment units equipped to provide high-quality supportive care close to outbreak epicentres. ✓Sustain research efforts, including clinical trials for vaccines and therapeutics, with continued global collaboration and support. ✓Reinforce screening measures at borders and along major internal routes to prevent further spread, ensuring confirmed cases do not travel and that contacts are monitored and restricted from international travel for 21 days. ✓Implement screening at airports and border entry points, focusing on early detection of potential Ebola cases. ✓Consider postponing mass gatherings where necessary to reduce the risk of transmission. Ensure safe and dignified burials, conducted by trained teams in line with public health guidance while respecting cultural practices. ✓Strengthen logistics and supply systems to guarantee the consistent availability of PPE, medical equipment, and laboratory supplies. ✓Promote a coordinated, community-driven, and well-resourced response, which remains essential to effectively contain Ebola and protect lives. #Ebola #PHEIC

Uganda’s @MinofHealthUG of Health has confirmed an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease (May 15, 2026). A 59-year-old Congolese male admitted in Kampala on May 11 with fever, respiratory distress, and related symptoms sadly passed away on May 14. Laboratory testing confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo. The case originated from the DRC, and no local transmission has been confirmed to date. The government has swiftly activated response measures, including enhanced screening at borders and transit points, deployment of rapid response teams, isolation facilities, mobile laboratories in high-risk districts, and rigorous contact tracing with quarantine underway. @WHOUganda is on the ground, supporting the Ministry of Health and local authorities in strengthening surveillance, contact tracing, clinical preparedness, risk communication, and rapid response operations. Support also includes emergency supplies that will be handed over to MoH such as PPE, laboratory reagents, and public health guidance materials. Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The public is urged to maintain hand hygiene, avoid contact with symptomatic individuals, and report suspected cases immediately. @WHOAFRO @KasondeMwinga #Ebola #Outbreak Emergency Telephone: 0800-100-066 | SMS: 6767

The Ministry of Health, led by Dr @DianaAtwine , together with Permanent Secretaries @MoLGUganda, @Educ_SportsUg, @Mglsd_UG, and the Health Service Commission, convened a meeting at the @WHOUganda to strengthen coordination and improve service delivery under the Social Services Committees (SSC) of the Parish Development Model. The meeting brought together Resident District Commissioners, Chief Administrative Officers, District Health Officers, District Education Officers, and District Development Officers, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach. The SSC will be piloted in Kyotera, Omoro, Namutumba, Rubirizi, Mayuge, Ngora and Nakasongola, focusing on improving health, education, nutrition, sanitation, surveillance, and social protection while strengthening community participation. Dr. @DianaAtwine emphasized SSCs as key to advancing PDM, especially its 4th pillar on social services. Mr. Ben Kumumanya (@MoLGUganda) called for a whole-of-government approach, including community barazas to improve citizen feedback, accountability, and awareness of public services. Ms. Kedrace Turyagenda (@Educ_SportsUg) expressed confidence in leadership commitment at national and sub-national levels to improve communities. Mr. Aggrey David Kibenge (@Mglsd_UG) noted the pilot as an opportunity to collaborate across the 7 districts, generate evidence to inform scale-up for better service delivery outcomes. Speaking on behalf of WHO, Dr Christine Musanhu reaffirmed support for strengthening planning, coordination, and monitoring capacities. Parish Chiefs, Sub-county Chiefs, Community Health Extension Workers, Village Health Teams, and community structures were recognized as critical in driving grassroots implementation, service delivery, and accountability.

The integration of sickle cell screening into Early Infant Diagnosis platforms in Uganda demonstrates that early detection can be effectively scaled in resource‑limited settings. Moreover, Uganda’s local production of diagnostic kits highlights the value of homegrown solutions in enabling timely diagnosis, expanding access, and improving treatment outcomes. WHO will continue to support countries like Uganda in integrating sickle cell services into primary health care, strengthening health worker capacity, enhancing laboratory systems and data use, and expanding access to essential medicines, including hydroxyurea. Together, we can advance evidence‑based approaches, promote equity, and ensure sustainable financing for long‑term impact. @WHO @WHOAFRO @AfricaCDC @MinofHealthUG #HealthEquity #UHC #SickleCell

Hon. Margaret Muhanga, the Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care) officiated the launch of the Continental Plan, which brought together 176 participants from across Africa, the USA, and Denmark in Kampala to accelerate action. “We must act decisively to prevent avoidable deaths through early detection and strong primary health care. Uganda’s national strategy will be ready within 12 months,” she said, reaffirming Uganda’s leadership in strengthening primary health care and advancing early screening for sickle cell disease. @WHO @WHOAFRO @AfricaCDC @MinofHealthUG #HealthEquity #UHC #SickleCell

The WHO Representative, Dr Kasonde Mwinga, today participated in the launch of the Continental Plan on Sickle Cell Disease and Other Hereditary Blood Disorders in Kampala. She noted that WHO has developed practical tools to support countries in delivering tangible results, e.g. 2025 guidelines on the management of sickle cell disease in pregnancy, childbirth, and the inter‑pregnancy period, and the WHO Sickle Cell Technical Package released in 2024. She emphasized the need to shift from policy to implementation across African health systems. @WHO @WHOAFRO @MinofHealthUG #GlobalHealth #SickleCell #NCDs

On the sidelines of the 2nd Africa Health Workforce Investment Forum, WHO AFRO Regional Director, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, met with Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa, Uganda’s Minister of State for Public Service. Uganda has made steady progress in expanding its health workforce over the past decades, driven by sustained national investments, including a 26% increase in average wage allocation between FY 2022/23 and FY 2026/27. However, gaps remain. As of 2022, health workforce density stands at 25.9 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 10,000 population, about 58% of the WHO UHC benchmark of 44.5. WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government of Uganda to further strengthen the health workforce through: ✓Developing a new Health Workforce Strategy, informed by the Health Labour Market Analysis and backed by an investment compact ✓Advancing competency-based education to strengthen training quality ✓Enhancing health workforce performance and retention A strong health workforce is central to achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving health outcomes for all.

The 2nd Africa Health Workforce Investment Forum is underway in Accra, Ghana. The message from @WHOAFRO’s Regional Director was clear to Africa’s leadership: Plan better. Train more. Retain longer. Across the African Region, for every 10 doctors or nurses, at least 1 is working outside their country of origin. Countries like Uganda are investing in training health workers but not fully benefiting, underscoring the need for fair and mutually beneficial mobility. Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa, Minister of State, Ministry of Public Service, emphasized: The real test is not more declarations, but whether investments translate into deployed, motivated, and high-performing health workers. She highlighted Uganda’s post-Covid increases in health worker salaries and the critical role of government Ministries to engage for improved health workforce planning, management and education in building a resilient and sustainable workforce. #HealthWorkforce #HealthForAll #InvestInHealth

With @WHO support, Kyotera District is pioneering a 2-day District Performance Review (May 7–8, 2026) to transform routine reviews into action-oriented platforms. By integrating emergency preparedness into service delivery analysis, leaders and partners align data, close gaps, and act faster. This approach will strengthen surveillance, immunization, maternal-newborn health, and outbreak readiness, maximising resources while enhancing accountability and district ownership for resilient, people-centred care. #DistrictPerformanceReview #ResilientHealthSystems #IntegratedServiceDelivery