The Ugandan Ministry of Health has said that the traveller who tested positive for Ebola virus disease in Nigeria did not exhibit symptoms when she departed the country.
The ministry revealed this in a statement dated October 23, 2026, and signed by the Director General of Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro.
According to the statement, investigations were still underway to determine when the woman developed symptoms and the circumstances of her infection.
“Available information indicates that the traveller did not exhibit symptoms at the time of departure from Uganda,” the statement said.
The ministry said it was collaborating with its Nigerian counterparts to determine the traveller’s complete travel history, movements, and potential exposure to the virus.
It added that Nigerian authorities had been asked to provide further information, including detailed travel records and genomic sequencing results where available, to assist with the investigation.
As a precautionary measure, Uganda has reintroduced traveller locator forms for all travellers, regardless of their country of origin, to enable follow-up and contact tracing when necessary.
The ministry also said, “Infection prevention and control measures had been strengthened at all points of entry and exit, as well as at health facilities, while surveillance continued across the country.”
It also announced that travellers who had previously travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo would not be allowed to transit through Uganda.
The ministry cautioned that provisions under the Public Health Act would be applied in cases where public health requirements were violated, noting that individuals entering the country through unauthorized routes would be handed over to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
It called on communities to stay alert and report suspected unauthorized border crossings to support screening and public health follow-up.
The ministry, however, assured the public that Uganda remained free of Ebola.
It also called on travelers and the general public to stay calm and alert, maintain proper hand hygiene, and comply with screening and other public health measures at all points of entry.
The ministry recognized the support provided by government agencies, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in the ongoing investigation.
