Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has called on the United States Government to urgently review and remove Uganda from the temporary Ebola-related entry suspension, saying the country’s epidemiological situation has improved significantly.
“Today, I formally called on the United States Government to urgently review and remove Uganda from the temporary Ebola-related entry suspension,” Kaseya said in a statement. He noted that Uganda has reported no new confirmed Ebola case since 21 June 2026, has discharged its last patient and has entered the 42-day countdown toward declaring the outbreak over. Kaseya said all 836 identified contacts have completed follow-up, while surveillance remains active across 36 high-risk districts and 38 points of entry.
He added that laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, case management, risk communication and community surveillance remain fully operational. “These results reflect decisive national leadership, the courage and commitment of Uganda’s health workers and communities, and strong cooperation between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa CDC and our partners,” he said.
While acknowledging continued transmission in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kaseya argued that Uganda’s response justified a country-specific approach. “Uganda’s demonstrated capacity to detect, report and respond rapidly provides a strong basis for a differentiated, country-specific assessment,” he said.
He said public health decisions should be guided by evidence and not blanket restrictions. “Public health measures must follow the evidence,” Kaseya said, adding that Africa CDC was calling for “proportionate safeguards” such as risk-based departure and arrival screening, traveller health declarations, exposure-based monitoring and rapid referral of symptomatic travellers. According to Kaseya, countries that detect outbreaks early, report transparently and act decisively should be supported rather than penalized. “Evidence-based decisions strengthen trust, international cooperation and rapid reporting during future health emergencies,” he said.
Africa CDC said it is ready to share the latest surveillance data with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to facilitate technical consultations if needed. Kaseya said Uganda’s progress “deserves recognition,” but stressed that vigilance must continue and that every public health decision should remain grounded in “science, proportionality and partnership.”
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