The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and companions, convened a national Ebola Accountability Forum on 24 July 2025 to reflect on Uganda’s response to the 2025 Ebola outbreak and to strengthen future preparedness efforts.
Presided over by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, the forum brought together more than 100 stakeholders, together with authorities officers, health professionals, pattern and enforcing companions, and frontline responders. The forum provided an alternate to reflect on the operational performance, coordination mechanisms, and only practices that contributed to this success.
Dr Aceng emphasized that the forum used to be no longer only a second of accountability nevertheless additionally a reaffirmation of Uganda’s collective dedication to conserving lives, strengthening programs, and studying from every hiss. She acknowledged the keen landscape of world health financing and the evolving priorities of donors, while expressing deep appreciation for the unwavering toughen acquired from companions at some stage within the Ebola outbreak.
The 2025 outbreak, which affected Kampala, Wakiso, Mbale, Fortress Portal Metropolis, and Jinja Metropolis, posed essential challenges to the health system. But, by decisive management, the dedication of medical examiners, and strong collaboration with companions, Uganda efficiently contained the outbreak.
People discussed the need to modernize surveillance programs, strengthen present chains, and the significance of institutionalizing resilient health care programs. There used to be a strong emphasis on integrating behavioral insights and chance communication into preparedness planning to produce obvious more practical responses within the future. The significance of focal point on ecological investigation to name the focus of spill over at the animal-human-environment interface used to be additionally prioritized for future look.
Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Nation Representative to Uganda, applauded the Ministry of Health for its management and the snappily activation of response mechanisms. She praised the frontline medical examiners, survivors, and their households, whose courage and resilience were instrumental within the response.
The success of the response, noticed Dr Mwinga, isn’t any longer only measured by the USD 24 million mobilized, nevertheless additionally by how successfully, transparently, and strategically these assets were old-fashioned. She underscored the significance of aligning every contribution with national priorities to produce obvious maximum impression.
“While the outbreak has formally ended, the systemic vulnerabilities it uncovered want attention. Let us continue to create resilient health programs that can detect, respond to, and bag greater from health threats snappily, equitably, and sustainably,” acknowledged Dr Mwinga.
Dr Aceng offered plans to put an interdisciplinary consortium for epidemic be taught in Africa. This initiative aims to promote African-led, context-specific be taught that can command future outbreak responses. By embedding be taught into the response structure, the consortium will generate proof to information protection and action.
The accountability forum concluded with a joint convey of dedication from companions, reaffirming their dedication to guaranteeing that Uganda is healthier intriguing for future public health emergencies.
Uganda declared an Ebola outbreak on 30 January 2025. With toughen from WHO and companions, Ministry of Health activated emergency response mechanisms, together with surveillance, case administration, laboratory services, chance communication, and community engagement. Remarkably, all sufferers admitted to the therapy unit survived, and all secondary cases were identified among identified contacts—demonstrating the strength of Uganda’s surveillance and response programs. The outbreak used to be formally declared over on 26 April 2025.
