Journalists trained on outbreak reporting

27 May 2026, 4:23 pm

Byamukama Alozious

Health officials have said Uganda remains on high alert and continues to strengthen its preparedness and response systems following the recent Ebola outbreak in the region.

The remarks were made during a training on epidemic preparedness and response organised by the Health Journalists Network Uganda with support from Living Goods. The engagement brought together health journalists, district officials, and health experts to improve reporting on disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

According to health officials, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has registered more than 500 Ebola cases and several deaths linked to the ongoing outbreak which has risked the East African region

Uganda has also confirmed five Ebola-related cases, including a pilot who reportedly transported a suspected patient from Arua to Entebbe without initially knowing the patient’s condition, a health worker, and a Congolese national.

Dr. Bonny Kintu, a Senior Medical Officer in the Department of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies at the Ministry of Health Uganda, said Uganda has built strong systems for responding to outbreaks through surveillance, rapid response, and coordination.

He noted that the ministry continues to monitor public health threats through emergency surveillance systems and has strengthened preparedness in high-risk districts and border areas.

Dr. Kintu said Uganda’s experience in handling outbreaks such as Ebola and cholera has helped improve the country’s response capacity over the years.

Meanwhile, Kaketo Alet, the incident commander for outbreaks in Wakiso District, said the district is prepared to respond in case of further Ebola spread.

He noted that Wakiso and the Kampala Metropolitan area remain among the most high-risk areas because of their large and highly mobile populations, busy transport routes, and close interaction between communities.

According to the latest national census figures, Wakiso District is Uganda’s most populated district with more than 3 million people, while the greater Kampala Metropolitan area hosts millions more people moving in and out daily for work, trade, and transport. Health experts warned that such population movement can increase the speed at which infectious diseases like Ebola spread if surveillance and early response systems are not strengthened.

Officials also cautioned the public against misinformation and urged communities to report suspected symptoms early and follow public health guidelines.

During the training, journalists were taken through basic epidemic reporting skills, including fact-checking, responsible headline writing, ethical reporting, and avoiding stigmatization during outbreaks.

HEJNU Media Coordinator Jeal Namiganda emphasized the importance of solution-based journalism, saying accurate and balanced reporting can help communities understand risks, reduce panic, and support outbreak response efforts.

The training aimed to equip journalists with skills to report epidemics responsibly while helping the public access timely, accurate, and life-saving information during health emergencies.