Uganda has quietly offered to host and treat American citizens infected with Ebola, banking on its long-standing experience and expertise in handling deadly viral outbreaks, highly placed sources in the Ministry of Health (MoH) have revealed.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the position was already communicated to relevant stakeholders, including officials at the American Embassy in Kampala, as Uganda seeks to position itself as a reliable regional center for Ebola response and treatment.
Sources said the Ministry of Health believes Uganda possesses the necessary expertise, infrastructure, and trained personnel to effectively manage and treat Ebola patients, having successfully contained multiple outbreaks in the past.
“This is not the first Ebola outbreak Uganda is handling. The country has built sufficient experience over the years and has some of the best-trained experts in Ebola management,” a highly placed source said.
However, sources disclosed that the Ministry resolved not to publicly announce the development for fear of triggering panic among sections of the public amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak scare.
By press time, no top official at the Ministry of Health, including Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, was willing to publicly comment on the matter.
The development comes at a time when Uganda remains on heightened Ebola alert following confirmed cases in Kampala and increasing infections in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Ministry recently announced stricter containment measures, including temporary closure of Uganda’s border with DRC, mandatory screening and monitoring of travelers, and heightened surveillance in schools and health facilities.
Officials maintain that despite the outbreak, Uganda’s Ebola response systems remain robust, citing the country’s previous success in containing outbreaks before they spread widely.
Uganda has in recent years earned global recognition for its rapid Ebola response mechanisms, contact tracing systems, and experienced health workers trained in infectious disease management.
