Uganda declares end of ebola outbreak, Museveni warns against witch doctors

27 April 2025, 6:25 pm

Kampala, Uganda – April 26, 2025

By Byamukama Alozious

President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to trust healthcare workers and avoid visiting witch doctors when dealing with unfamiliar diseases. In an oral message delivered through the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, during the declaration of the end of the Ebola outbreak, Museveni emphasised the importance of following health guidelines to prevent the spread of diseases.

“If you could listen to and follow the advice given by healthcare workers, and avoid unnecessary movements, this outbreak would not have spread to the districts where it did,” Museveni said.

The President’s message came as the Ministry of Health declared Uganda Ebola-free, 87 days after the outbreak was confirmed on 30th January 2025. The outbreak, which spread across seven districts and three cities — including Masaka, Kampala, Mbale, Wakiso, Jinja, Ntoroko, and Kyegegwa — was first detected in a 32-year-old nurse who later passed away at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng praised the nation’s resilience in the face of recurrent epidemics, highlighting Uganda’s increasing capacity to respond to health emergencies. “This current outbreak has demonstrated Uganda’s growing ability to respond to health emergencies, a result of sustained investment in surveillance, response infrastructure, and multi-sectoral coordination,” Dr. Aceng said.

Ninsiima Rita, a medical practitioner and Ebola survivor, shared her harrowing experience. She had been treating a patient without knowing they had contracted the virus. After developing fever-like symptoms and being informed that she was among the confirmed positive cases, Rita described the situation as horrifying. However, she expressed gratitude to her fellow medical professionals who worked tirelessly to save her life.

Dr. Aceng also emphasised the importance of survivor care, stating that her team will work closely with survivors to integrate them back into society. “We will ensure that survivors receive the support they need to rebuild their lives,” she said.

The outbreak resulted in 10 recoveries, with transmission primarily occurring through family clusters. The Minister thanked global partners, including the US, which donated approximately $29.3 million to support contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, community outreach, and survivor care.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Mbale City, Asumin Nakike, commended the task force led by Dr. Kyobe Bbosa, the incident commander, for their tireless efforts in containing the outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to working with Uganda to address future outbreaks.

As Uganda moves forward, the isolation centres established during the outbreak will continue to serve as training centres in preparation for future health emergencies.