Uganda has denied having any active Ebola cases following confirmation that a woman diagnosed with the disease in Abuja, Nigeria, had travelled through the East African country.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health said preliminary investigations showed that the woman had visited the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) for business before passing through Uganda in early October.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and signed by the Director-General of Health Services, Professor Charles Olaro, the ministry said the woman had not displayed symptoms while travelling through Uganda.
It added that she developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria, noting that her travel history alone could not establish where she contracted the virus.
“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here,” the statement said.
The ministry also disclosed that Nigerian authorities had yet to provide detailed information about the patient’s travel itinerary and medical history to assist investigations into the possible source of the infection.
Reaffirming Uganda’s health status, the ministry stated that “Uganda has NO confirmed active Ebola cases.”
Despite the clarification, the government said it would strengthen health screening and surveillance at the country’s entry points as a precautionary measure.
It also urged residents to remain calm, observe proper hygiene and rely on verified information from health authorities.
The clarification comes after Uganda experienced an Ebola outbreak that was subsequently brought under control, leading to the country being declared free of the disease.
Nigeria confirms Ebola infection
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health confirmed an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20.
The patient, a woman with a recent history of international travel, reportedly developed symptoms on October 7 and visited a private hospital in Abuja four days later.
Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed an infection caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of the Ebola virus.
According to the World Health Organization, the patient has been isolated and is receiving medical care.
Nigerian health authorities have identified 44 people who may have come into contact with the patient and begun tracing their movements to assess possible exposure.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has also activated its incident management system to coordinate the national response.
Health officials are investigating the woman’s travel history to establish where she may have contracted the virus and identify other potential contacts.
The development has heightened attention on cross-border disease surveillance amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Uganda’s health ministry said it would continue monitoring the situation and strengthening preventive measures while investigations into the Nigerian case progress.
