Uganda has no active confirmed Ebola cases after the last patient receiving treatment at the Mulago National Referral Hospital Isolation Centre was discharged following a full recovery.
The patient, a Congolese national, thanked the medical team for the care and support that helped him overcome the disease.
The discharge was officiated by Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who presented the survivor with a certificate to mark the occasion. He described the development as a significant milestone in Uganda’s efforts to contain the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
With the last patient now discharged, Uganda enters the World Health Organisation’s mandatory 42-day monitoring period. If no new confirmed cases are detected during this time, the country will officially be declared Ebola-free.
Dr Baryomunsi also commended the health workers who managed the outbreak, praising their dedication and bravery in treating patients with a highly infectious disease.
“Not everyone has the courage to take on the task of treating a highly infectious disease, but our health workers accepted that responsibility,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Health, Uganda recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases during the outbreak, including two deaths. The recovery and discharge of the final patient marks a major step towards bringing the outbreak to an official end.
