Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi during a ceremony to mark the patient's discharge on July 16, 2026. [Uganda MOH]
Uganda has begun the mandatory 42-day countdown to be declared Ebola-free after discharging the last patient who had been receiving treatment for the virus, leaving the country with no active confirmed cases.
The countdown, required under World Health Organisation guidelines, will only be completed if the country goes 42 consecutive days equivalent to two Ebola incubation periods without detecting another confirmed infection.
Speaking during a ceremony to mark the patient's discharge, Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi, described the development as "a moment of joy."
"It demonstrates that with early detection, prompt treatment and a strong health system, Ebola can be defeated," he said.
