Tensions are emerging between Uganda and the United States over how to coordinate the response to the deadly Ebola outbreak that has been spreading across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and recently reached Kampala.
Since April 2026, the Ebola outbreak has claimed more than 130 lives, mainly in Bunia town in Ituri Province, while nearly 600 suspected infections have been recorded. Ugandan health authorities have also confirmed two Ebola cases in Kampala, both linked to travelers arriving from DR Congo.
On May 20, 2026, the US Department of State announced an emergency support initiative aimed at strengthening Ebola response efforts in both DR Congo and Uganda. According to the announcement, the United States plans to support around 50 health facilities that will be used for treatment, screening, and containment operations in areas affected by the outbreak.
The Department stated: “The United States is committed to providing rapid support to fight the Ebola outbreak by funding nearly 50 health facilities and covering urgent operational costs in Ebola-affected areas of DR Congo and Uganda.”
US officials explained that the facilities would help medical partners provide patient care, carry out rapid testing, identify emergency cases, and establish quarantine areas to prevent wider transmission of the virus.
However, Uganda’s Ministry of Health responded by saying no formal discussions had taken place between Kampala and Washington regarding the establishment of those facilities inside Uganda or the implementation of the reported support package.
The Ministry stated: “We do not know where such facilities would have been established in this country.”
Ugandan authorities further emphasized that only two Ebola cases have so far been confirmed in the country, including one patient who died and another who is currently recovering.
“Nobody in Uganda is spreading Ebola and the country remains safe,” the Ministry added.
The disagreement comes amid reports that the United States is preparing financial assistance worth 86 billion Ugandan shillings to support Uganda’s Ebola preparedness and response measures.
The European Union is also expected to contribute 34.9 billion shillings, while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) plans to provide 7.5 billion shillings. The World Health Organization is expected to add 1.8 billion shillings in emergency support funding.
Uganda said it appreciates the willingness of international partners to assist, but insisted that all interventions must be coordinated directly with the government and aligned with the country’s national Ebola response strategy.
Authorities in Kampala have requested all partners to clearly specify the nature of their support, where resources will be deployed, who will implement the activities, and what specific gaps the assistance is intended to address in order to improve planning and coordination.
Regional analysts warn that the growing misunderstanding between Uganda and the United States could slow down emergency response operations at a time when Ebola continues to threaten communities near the DR Congo–Uganda border.
Concerns remain that poor coordination between international partners and government agencies may weaken surveillance, containment, and public health preparedness efforts.
Ebola remains one of the deadliest viral diseases to affect Central and East Africa in recent decades, largely because of its rapid transmission and high fatality rate when outbreaks are not contained quickly.
Residents living near border areas have continued to receive warnings to maintain strict hygiene measures and immediately seek medical attention if they develop symptoms associated with the disease.
