Ebola case confirmed in Kampala

By Bakar Ssettumba

Fear and anxiety swept through Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital and the surrounding community in Matugga, Wakiso District on Thursday, following the Ministry of Health’s announcement of a Sudan Ebolavirus Disease (SVD) outbreak in Kampala. The hospital is now part of the chain of investigation as authorities work to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Addressing the media at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary, revealed that the outbreak was confirmed after tests from three National Reference Laboratories identified the virus.

“The confirmed case, designated as the index case, is a 32-year-old male nurse, an employee of Mulago National Referral Hospital, who initially developed fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, Wakiso District, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City, as well as from a traditional healer,” said Dr. Atwine.

The patient, who presented with a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, later developed unexplained bleeding from multiple body sites. 

“The patient experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on 29th January 2025. Postmortem samples confirmed Sudan Ebola Virus Disease. Currently, no other healthcare worker or patient on the ward has presented with signs or symptoms of Ebola,” Dr. Atwine added.

Dr. Anwar Kakeeto, Medical Director of Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital, confirmed that the facility had treated the index case. 

“Our diagnosis found he had difficulty breathing. We referred him to Mulago Hospital,” Dr. Kakeeto said. “We were surprised to hear reports from the Ministry that the patient was suffering from Ebola.”

What’s next?

In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health has activated the Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to both Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga. So far, 44 contacts have been identified, including 30 healthcare workers and patients from Mulago, 11 family members of the deceased, and 4 healthcare workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.

Immediate plans are underway to vaccinate all contacts of the deceased against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), with a focus on those who had direct exposure.

This marks Uganda’s second Ebola outbreak in three years. On 20 September 2022, the country declared an Ebola outbreak caused by the Sudan Ebola virus species after a case was confirmed in Mubende District. It was Uganda’s first Sudan Ebola virus outbreak in a decade and its fifth overall. During that outbreak, there were 164 cases (142 confirmed and 22 probable), 55 confirmed deaths, and 87 recoveries. The outbreak was declared over on 11 January 2023.

The Sudan ebola virus, one of six species of the Ebola virus, currently has no approved therapeutics or vaccines, making containment efforts critical.

Ebola symptoms

Symptoms of Ebola often begin with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Late-stage symptoms include bleeding, organ failure, and, in many cases, death.

As authorities work to contain the outbreak, the community remains on high alert, with healthcare facilities and residents urged to follow strict infection prevention measures to curb the spread of the virus.