Support Community-Led Ebola Containment in Uganda

Dear supporter,

Uganda's successful containment of Ebola remains a powerful example of what can be achieved when government, health workers, community leaders, grassroots organizations, and communities work together. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths during the 2026 outbreak before officially declaring the country Ebola-free on July 28. This achievement followed intensive surveillance, contact tracing, case management, community engagement, infection prevention, and rapid response activities.

However, the situation across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become significantly more serious. As of August 16, the DRC had reported 4,945 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,325 deaths. The outbreak has now become the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history.

For Development Alert, Uganda's success is not a reason to stop. It is a reason to strengthen preparedness. Communities along the Uganda–DRC border continue to have strong social, economic, family, and transportation links with neighboring communities in the DRC. Continued movement makes community surveillance and rapid communication essential.

Our grassroots interventions continue to focus on Ebola prevention education, household awareness, hygiene promotion, early reporting, and strengthening links between communities and health facilities. Community volunteers remain important sources of trusted information, particularly in remote communities where access to formal health services can be difficult.

The field motorcycle purchased to support contact tracing and emergency response continues to provide critical mobility. It enables teams to reach remote villages, follow up alerts, transport educational materials and supplies, and respond quickly when urgent needs arise.

Uganda's success demonstrates that early action works. The crisis in the DRC demonstrates why preparedness must continue. Your support is helping protect Uganda's hard-won achievement while strengthening communities that remain vulnerable to the regional Ebola emergency.