The Ministry of Health, with support from WHO Uganda, is convening an Ebola Accountability Forum to provide financial and accountability updates, promote transparency, and strengthen trust among stakeholders supporting the country's Ebola response.

Ebola is a severe viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person and can cause serious illness and death. Effective outbreak control depends on rapid detection, isolation of cases, contact tracing, infection prevention measures, and close collaboration among governments and development partners.

The forum brought together government officials and development partners to review accountability in the use of response resources, receive updates on Uganda's current Ebola situation, and align partner support with the Ministry of Health's response priorities.

According to the Ministry of Health, Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases, including two cumulative deaths, seventeen recoveries, and one current admission in the current outbreak. Most of the confirmed cases were imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while a smaller number resulted from local transmission.

Director General Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro, said the forum provides an opportunity to update stakeholders on the country's Ebola situation while ensuring that partner resources remain aligned with the Ministry of Health's response priorities.

While opening the forum, the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, thanked all partners for their invaluable technical and financial support in helping Uganda bring the Ebola outbreak under control.

He called for continued collaboration as Uganda supports the Democratic Republic of the Congo in ending the ongoing Ebola epidemic, noting that strong cross-border cooperation is critical to preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine also expressed appreciation for the technical and financial support provided by development partners throughout Uganda's Ebola response.

She further thanked countries that did not impose travel restrictions on Uganda during the outbreak, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, and several countries in the Middle East. "You believed in us and believed in our capacity. This speaks volumes about the true partnerships we have with you," Dr. Atwine said.

The Ebola Accountability Forum is part of the Ministry of Health's commitment to ensuring transparent management of public health emergency resources while strengthening preparedness for future disease outbreaks. It also provides an opportunity for government and partners to review lessons learned and reinforce collaboration as Uganda continues supporting regional efforts to control Ebola.