Ebola Outbreak in DRC Surpasses 500 Cases as Uganda Prepares Cross-Border Treatment Facilities

Uganda will open four health facilities inside the Democratic Republic of Congo this week to contain an Ebola outbreak that has killed 88 people in the neighboring country. A Ministry of Health official said a Monday meeting at State House changed an earlier plan for two treatment centers and one laboratory. The new plan calls for four facilities instead.

Ugandan authorities had initially planned to send 40 health workers to each of two treatment centers in Aru Territory and Kasenye in Ituri province. The same official said a laboratory will open in Rwampara before the end of the week of 9 June 2026.

Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, had earlier told reporters that Uganda planned to deploy about 80 medics but lacked funds for the deployment.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, visited Uganda on or before 9 June 2026 to assess the country's readiness and support cross-border coordination. He said WHO has supported training for over 140 health workers and is providing emergency medical training, personal protective equipment, and other supplies.

Dr Tolbert Geewleh Nyenswah, Director for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said Africa CDC is in Uganda to set up a continental incident support management team to coordinate the global response.

He said the team chose Uganda because the country has quickly contained similar threats. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and has affected over 500 people in DRC. An official from the Africa Regional Office of the World Health Organization said Uganda's decision to place facilities inside DRC is part of a joint action plan to reduce the number of people crossing the border for treatment.

Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed Ebola cases and one death. The fatality was a Congolese national who traveled to Uganda for medical care. Fourteen of the cases are imported. Four cases occurred among health workers who initially treated the Congolese patient.

The outbreak was confirmed on 15 May 2026. Uganda has recorded no local community transmission since that date.