By Zachery Onyango | Project Leader
Dear Donor,
Uganda's Ebola-free declaration represents a major achievement, but it is also a reminder that public health security depends on cooperation beyond national borders. Uganda successfully contained its 2026 outbreak after recording 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. The last confirmed case was reported on 21 June, and the country officially declared the outbreak over on 28 July.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains extremely serious. As of 12 August, WHO reported 4,665 confirmed cases in the DRC, while the wider outbreak had recorded 2,186 deaths. The outbreak has become the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC.
Development Alert believes Uganda's experience offers important lessons for neighboring communities. Early identification, strong contact tracing, trusted community engagement, rapid communication, and accessible response capacity can make a decisive difference.
Our continued work therefore focuses on protecting border communities through awareness, preparedness, and community engagement. We are strengthening relationships with local leaders and community volunteers while encouraging communities to maintain good hygiene and promptly communicate suspected health threats.
We are particularly committed to ensuring that vulnerable and remote communities are not overlooked. Poor roads, distance from health facilities, and limited transportation can create dangerous delays during emergencies. The field motorcycle purchased through donor support remains an important tool for reaching these communities and supporting rapid field activities.
Uganda's victory should give the region hope. At the same time, the scale of the DRC outbreak reminds us that the fight is not over.
We celebrate Uganda's achievement while standing with communities in the DRC. Continued donor support will help us maintain preparedness, strengthen grassroots health systems, protect border communities, and ensure that the lessons learned from Uganda's Ebola response continue saving lives.
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