Uganda’s Ministry of Health has dismissed reports suggesting an Ebola outbreak in the country, insisting that no active cases have been confirmed following Nigeria’s report of an infected woman who travelled through Uganda.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the ministry said preliminary investigations indicated that the Nigerian woman had travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for business and transited through Uganda in early October without showing symptoms.
According to the ministry, the woman developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria, where laboratory tests later confirmed an Ebola infection. Ugandan authorities stressed that her transit through the country does not establish that she contracted the virus there, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the likely source of infection.
The ministry also said it was awaiting detailed information from Nigerian authorities regarding the woman’s travel itinerary and medical history to support further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.
“We wish to clarify that, as at the time of this statement, Uganda has no confirmed active Ebola cases,” the ministry stated.
Despite the clarification, Uganda said it would strengthen health screening and other preventive measures at its entry points while maintaining limited provisions for humanitarian and diplomatic travel.
The ministry urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, practise regular handwashing and sanitisation, and rely on verified updates from official health authorities.
Meanwhile, Nigerian health authorities have confirmed one imported case of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and identified 44 contacts for monitoring as part of efforts to prevent further transmission. The source of the patient’s infection remains under investigation.
