Martha Udom
Uganda has denied that the imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo confirmed in Nigeria originated in its territory.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health, in a public statement issued on Tuesday, October 20,2026, said the location where the woman was exposed to the virus remained under investigation.
The ministry said preliminary information indicated that the patient, a Nigerian woman, travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for business and transited through Uganda in early October without showing symptoms.
“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the ministry stated.
The ministry said it currently had no confirmed active Ebola cases. It added that the Nigerian government was yet to provide detailed information about the woman’s travel itinerary and clinical history to guide further investigation and contact tracing.
Nigeria confirmed the case on Tuesday after laboratory tests confirmed the Bundibugyo virus on October 20. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the woman developed symptoms on October 7,2026, four days after her arrival, and sought care at a private facility in Abuja on October 11,2026. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
The ministry said 44 contacts had been identified and were under monitoring, while surveillance had been strengthened at points of entry.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts.
