ADJUMANI DISTRICT STRENGTHENS EBOLA PREPAREDNESS, SUSPENDS PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

By Bazio Doreen.Adjumani District Local Government has intensified Ebola preparedness and prevention measures as Uganda continues to strengthen its response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak linked to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The renewed efforts were reaffirmed during a District Ebola Task Force meeting held at the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) on 8th June 2026, bringing together district leaders, health officials, refugee response agencies, security personnel, and development partners to review preparedness measures and coordinate response actions.The meeting follows the Ministry of Health's heightened surveillance and preparedness campaign across the country after Uganda recorded 19 confirmed Ebola cases and two confirmed deaths linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC. According to the World Health Organization, all confirmed cases reported in Uganda have been linked to imported infections or secondary transmission, with no documented community transmission recorded in the country as of early June 2026.As part of precautionary measures, the District Ebola Task Force resolved to temporarily suspend large public gatherings, including weddings, funeral ceremonies, and major religious events, while strengthening surveillance at community and health facility levels.Speaking during the meeting, the District Ebola Task Force Focal Person, Olony Paul, emphasized that preparedness remains the district's most effective tool in protecting lives and preventing the spread of the disease."Adjumani remains vigilant. Our priority is to ensure that communities are informed, health facilities are prepared, and response systems are fully operational should the need arise," he said.The district's preparedness efforts build on Uganda's long-standing experience in managing public health emergencies. In 2025, Uganda successfully contained and ended a Sudan Ebola Virus Disease outbreak after recording 14 cases and four deaths, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated surveillance, rapid response, contact tracing, and community engagement systems.As one of Uganda's largest refugee-hosting districts, Adjumani continues to occupy a strategic position in the country's public health preparedness framework. The district hosts more than 250,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, and experiences significant cross-border movement that requires continuous vigilance and coordinated disease surveillance.The Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal and Child Health, Dr. Lulu Henry Leku, highlighted the need to further strengthen district preparedness capacity through the provision of emergency response equipment and medical supplies."We must ensure that frontline health workers are adequately equipped. Personal protective equipment, isolation facilities, diagnostic supplies, and emergency response resources remain critical components of our preparedness strategy," he noted.The Refugee Desk Officer, Abina Polyene Irene, called for continued collaboration among government institutions, humanitarian organizations, community leaders, and development partners operating within the district.She also emphasized that protecting communities from public health threats requires collective action and sustained cooperation among all stakeholders.The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to pose a regional public health concern. The World Health Organization reports that more than 500 confirmed cases and over 90 deaths have been recorded in the neighboring country, prompting intensified preparedness efforts across countries in the region. WHO and Africa CDC have launched a continental preparedness and response plan worth US$518 million to support affected and at-risk countries.In recent months, Adjumani District has undertaken several preparedness interventions, including activation of the District Ebola Task Force, strengthening disease surveillance systems, enhancing risk communication and community awareness, and engaging health workers and partners in emergency preparedness planning.The District Local Government has reassured residents, refugees, and development partners that no confirmed Ebola case has been reported in Adjumani District. Surveillance teams remain on alert, and health facilities have been directed to maintain strict infection prevention and control measures.Residents are encouraged to remain calm, observe proper hygiene practices, avoid unnecessary physical contact with suspected cases, and promptly report any individual exhibiting symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding.Adjumani District Local Government remains committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of all residents through proactive preparedness, strong partnerships, and effective public health response mechanisms.END.


