Uganda today discharged eight patients who had been receiving treatment for Sudan virus disease—a member of the Ebola virus family—marking a significant milestone in the country’s response to the outbreak.
The recovered patients had been treated at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. However, health authorities caution that the outbreak is not yet over, as more than 100 contacts remain under surveillance. Since the outbreak was declared on January 30, 2025, a total of 216 contacts have been monitored in quarantine facilities across the country.
“The patients we are discharging today are safe and free of the disease. I urge their families and communities to receive and interact with them normally,” said Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Uganda’s Minister of Health.
With support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, Uganda has implemented a multi-faceted response to contain the outbreak. This includes strengthening early detection, clinical care, infection prevention, and community engagement.
WHO has deployed 47 health emergency experts, delivered 7 tonnes of emergency medical supplies, and supported the setup of treatment centres, including an 84-bed isolation unit at Mulago Hospital. WHO teams have also trained health workers in disease surveillance, contact tracing, testing, and diagnostics.
In Mbale, 24 people who came into contact with a patient who succumbed to the deadly Sudan Ebola virus have been discharged. They have been under isolation for 21 days at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
According to Dan Mwayafu, the Acting Director of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, all 24 individuals were tested and the results were negative. They were discharged on Monday.
Monday Asumin Nasike, the Chairperson of the Mbale City Ebola Task Force Committee, confirmed their discharge and urged the local community to avoid stigmatizing them. Some of the contacts expressed relief and happiness, emphasizing the importance of taking medical precautions and reporting suspected cases to health experts to prevent the spread of the disease.
They urged residents to remain calm, maintain vigilance, and adhere to Ministry of Health guidelines. Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Health declared an Ebola outbreak after a 32-year-old male nurse from Mbale, who was working at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, succumbed to the Sudan Ebola virus. The health worker was buried in Namunsi in Mbale City.
Survivors Speak Out
Among those discharged was Ezra Byegarazo, a clinical officer at Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Jinja, who had been exposed while treating the index case, a health worker who succumbed to the disease last month.
“I didn’t test positive until eleven days later,” Byegarazo recounted. “We have been told that follow-up will continue for a year, but I worry that it might turn into coercion if follow-up teams fail to consider that most of us have jobs and may not always be available.”
The discharged patients will continue to receive psychosocial support from WHO, the Ministry of Health, and other partners as they reintegrate into their communities. They will also undergo regular check-ups at survivor clinics.
Although no active cases remain in Uganda, Health Minister Aceng emphasized that the outbreak is not yet over. Over 100 contacts are still under observation, with some yet to complete the 21-day follow-up period. Initially, 265 contacts were quarantined in Jinja, Kampala, and Mbale, but 91 completed their monitoring period on Monday.
Meanwhile, experts have yet to determine the exact source of the outbreak. Col. Dr. Henry Kyobe, the Incident Commander, stated that while investigations are ongoing, it is highly likely that the index case was infected within the Kampala Metropolitan area, as he had traveled only within Kampala and Wakiso during his exposure period.
The Fight Against Sudan Virus Disease Continues
WHO has played a pivotal role in Uganda’s response, including supporting a groundbreaking vaccination trial and advancing research into potential treatments.
“The discharging of the patients today not only marks an important milestone in our collective efforts to control the outbreak, but it also brings huge relief to their families and communities,” said Dr. Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative in Uganda.
However, health experts caution that Sudan virus disease remains a severe and often fatal illness, with past outbreaks showing case fatality rates ranging from 41% to 100%. There are no approved treatments or vaccines for the disease, though early supportive care significantly improves survival rates.
With continued contact tracing, public awareness campaigns, and heightened surveillance, authorities remain hopeful that Uganda will soon declare an end to the outbreak.
