Uganda has discharged its last confirmed Ebola patient, leaving the country with no active confirmed cases of the virus and marking a significant step toward ending the latest outbreak.
The patient, a Congolese national who had been receiving treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital's isolation unit in Kampala, recovered after testing negative for the virus twice and was officially discharged on Wednesday by Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
The discharge officially triggers the World Health Organization's required 42-day countdown before Uganda can be declared Ebola outbreak-free, provided no new confirmed cases are detected during that period. The 42 days represent two maximum incubation cycles for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
Health authorities have emphasized that although there are now no active confirmed Ebola patients in Uganda, surveillance, contact tracing and rapid response measures remain fully operational throughout the countdown period.
Uganda declared the current outbreak on 15 May 2026 after imported cases linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo were detected. Since then, the country has recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with most infections linked to imported cases and limited local transmission. The last confirmed case was reported in late June.
Officials have praised healthcare workers, surveillance teams and partners for containing the outbreak, while urging the public to remain vigilant despite the encouraging milestone.
If Uganda records no new confirmed infections during the 42-day observation period, the country will officially declare the Ebola outbreak over in line with international public health guidelines.