The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal to raise $11.2 million to support Uganda’s fight against an Ebola outbreak, following US foreign aid cuts that have strained the country’s health budget.
Uganda declared an Ebola outbreak in January, after a male nurse at the country’s national referral hospital in Kampala died from the highly infectious virus. A second victim, a four-year-old child, also succumbed to the disease last week, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The country has reported 10 confirmed cases of Ebola’s Sudan strain, which currently has no approved vaccine.
Uganda has historically relied on US funding for its health sector, with $34 million provided by the US government during the 2022-2023 Ebola outbreak. However, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed an aid freeze, leading to severe budget shortfalls for Uganda’s public health system.
WHO official Dr. Janet Diaz noted that the agency has had to take over responsibilities previously handled by other groups, such as border surveillance and biological sample management.
The $11.2 million appeal aims to fund Uganda’s Ebola response from March to May, focusing on seven high-risk districts.
“The goal is to rapidly contain the outbreak and address its impact on public health and socio-economic life,” said Kasonde Mwinga, WHO’s representative in Uganda.
Ebola, which spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue, causes severe symptoms, including fever, headaches, and muscle pain.
With limited resources and no approved vaccine for the Sudan strain, Uganda faces a critical fight to prevent further spread, making international support more urgent than ever.
Melissa Enoch
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