Preventing Ebola Spillover at Uganda-Congo Border

The ongoing Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a serious reminder of the urgent need to strengthen preparedness and community protection along the Uganda–DRC border.

According to the latest update of 24 August 2026, the DRC has reported 5,514 confirmed cases and 2,642 related deaths, with 808 patients hospitalised in isolation. A further 55 confirmed cases and 36 deaths were reported in the latest reporting period. Ituri remains the most affected province, while cases have also been reported in North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo and Bas-Uele.

For communities living along the Uganda–DRC border, this situation requires continued vigilance. Cross-border movement of people, families, traders and travellers means that prevention and early detection must remain a priority. Uganda has an important role to play in strengthening community awareness, surveillance, infection prevention and rapid referral systems in border districts.

Good Cause Foundation Uganda is appealing to partners, GlobalGiving donors and well-wishers to support community-based Ebola preparedness and prevention activities. Support can help us conduct awareness campaigns, provide essential prevention materials, train community volunteers, strengthen referral and reporting mechanisms, and reach vulnerable families with accurate information.

This is not only about responding when cases appear—it is about preventing transmission before it reaches vulnerable communities.

Your support can help protect lives on both sides of the Uganda–DRC border. Please consider supporting our efforts through GlobalGiving and help us build stronger, safer and better-prepared border communities.

Uganda's progress in managing the Ebola outbreak is a powerful reminder that early action, community cooperation, surveillance, and strong health systems can protect lives.

The country experienced Ebola cases linked to the regional outbreak, but through coordinated response efforts, Uganda was able to stop further community transmission and eventually declare the outbreak over. This achievement deserves recognition and appreciation for the health workers, government teams, communities, partners, and organizations that contributed to the response.

Yet, as Uganda moves forward, our neighbours in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to face an extremely severe Ebola crisis.

The outbreak in Congo has expanded rapidly, with thousands of confirmed cases and thousands of deaths. Health workers are facing overwhelming pressure, while insecurity, misinformation, limited infrastructure, delayed detection, population movement, and difficulties with contact tracing are making containment much harder.

This is why the response cannot stop at national borders.

Diseases do not recognize borders. Communities trade, travel, work, study, and interact across countries. Protecting one country requires supporting preparedness and response efforts across the region.

We therefore appeal to donors and international partners to increase support for Congo while helping Uganda and other neighbouring countries maintain strong preparedness systems.

We need support for community education so people understand Ebola and know when and where to seek help. We need resources for surveillance and early detection. We need support for health workers who are putting their own lives at risk. We need protective equipment, laboratory services, transportation, communication systems, and safe infection-prevention measures.

Most importantly, we must remember the families behind the numbers.

People who have lost relatives need compassion. Survivors need support and protection from stigma. Families whose livelihoods have been disrupted need assistance. Communities living with fear need accurate information and trusted local voices.

We cannot celebrate Uganda's progress while ignoring the suffering of communities across the border.

Let us transform Uganda's success into regional solidarity.

Your support can help strengthen the fight against Ebola, protect vulnerable communities, and give affected families hope during an extremely difficult period.

We appeal to every donor: please give, share, advocate, and help us mobilize more resources. Together, we can help bring this crisis under control and protect lives across our region.