By Kabuye Ronald
The United Nations in Uganda, together with humanitarian partners, has launched an emergency appeal for US$15.8 million to strengthen the country’s response to the Ebola outbreak threatening Uganda and the wider region.
The Emergency Appeal, released on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, outlines a comprehensive three-month response plan covering May to August 2026. The plan brings together the efforts of the UN Country Team and humanitarian international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) to support the Government of Uganda in rapidly containing the outbreak and preventing further spread.
Humanitarian partners have already mobilized and repurposed US$3.1 million to kick-start immediate response efforts. However, officials say a critical funding gap of US$12.7 million remains, threatening the scale and speed of life-saving interventions needed in high-risk areas.
The appeal comes amid growing concern over the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) outbreak in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which poses a significant public health threat to Uganda due to intense cross-border movement for trade, livelihoods, and family ties.
As of 25 May 2026, Uganda had confirmed seven Ebola cases, including one death, while more than 300 contacts were under active monitoring by health authorities.
According to the UN, the risk of further transmission remains high, particularly in border districts and refugee-hosting communities where population movement is frequent and health systems are under pressure.
The emergency response plan targets high-risk districts across Uganda, including refugee settlements, and focuses on critical interventions such as case management, infection prevention and control, surveillance, risk communication and community engagement, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), logistics, and the continuity of essential health services.
The plan also prioritizes protection services, including gender-based violence (GBV) response, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and psychosocial support for affected communities.
UN officials emphasized that urgent international support is essential to help Uganda contain the outbreak before it escalates into a wider regional health emergency.
Michael Wangusa, Communication Officer at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), said the collective response aims to reinforce national preparedness and ensure vulnerable communities receive timely support during the crisis.
