Uganda is under a public health alert. The World Health Organization has declared the 2026 Ebola outbreak — caused by the Bundibugyo virus spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo — a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Cases have been confirmed in Kampala, and the Uganda Ministry of Health has activated a national response.
This is not a moment for panic. Ebola does not spread through the air. You cannot catch it by sitting next to someone in a lecture hall. But it is a moment to be informed, because knowledge is your best protection.
Here is everything you need to know as a student on a Ugandan campus right now.
This outbreak involves a rare strain of Ebola called the Bundibugyo virus (BVD), first identified in Uganda in 2007. It is not the same strain behind the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, and the existing licensed Ebola vaccine does not cover it.
As of June 5, 2026, the outbreak has recorded over 380 confirmed cases and 64 confirmed deaths in DRC, with 19 cases confirmed in Uganda. The case fatality rate for BVD ranges between 25% and 50%, meaning early treatment significantly improves survival chances.
The first confirmed Ugandan case was an imported case — a Congolese national who died while receiving care in Kampala. The Uganda Ministry of Health has confirmed that no local community transmission has been identified in Kampala as of the time of writing, though surveillance is ongoing and the situation is evolving.
Understanding transmission is the single most important thing you can do.
Ebola spreads through:
- Direct contact with the blood or body fluids (sweat, vomit, urine, diarrhea, saliva, semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from the disease
- Contact with surfaces or objects contaminated with infected fluids
- Handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola
- Contact with infected animals — fruit bats are the suspected natural reservoir
Ebola does NOT spread through:
- The air — you cannot catch it by breathing near an infected person
- Water or food (in normal circumstances)
- Casual contact — sitting near, talking to, or passing someone in a corridor
A person is only contagious once they are showing symptoms. Someone who is infected but not yet symptomatic cannot transmit the virus.
This means your risk on a typical Kampala university campus — attending lectures, eating in the canteen, walking between halls — is very low, provided you practice the precautions below.
The incubation period — the time between exposure and symptoms appearing — is 2 to 21 days. Symptoms develop in two stages.
Early “dry” symptoms (similar to flu or malaria):
- Sudden fever
- Severe headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sore throat
Later “wet” symptoms (as the illness progresses):
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
Important: Malaria shares many of the early symptoms of Ebola. Do not self-diagnose. If you develop a sudden fever — especially if you have recently travelled to western or border areas — go to a health facility immediately and tell the staff about your travel history.
7 Things You Must Do Right Now
1. Wash your hands — often and properly
This is your first line of defence. Wash with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and after being in crowded public spaces. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser (at least 60% alcohol) works when soap is not available.
2. Avoid unnecessary travel to the DRC border areas
The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC. The Uganda Ministry of Health has issued restrictions on mass gatherings in Kampala and in high-risk districts along the DRC border. Unless travel is essential, avoid the border districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko.
3. Do not touch or visit someone with unexplained symptoms
If a housemate, hostel neighbour, or fellow student develops sudden fever, vomiting, or bleeding, do not attempt to care for them yourself. Contact the university health centre or call the Ministry of Health Ebola hotline immediately. Leave physical care to trained health workers.
4. Avoid contact with sick people and their belongings
Do not share bedding, clothing, or eating utensils with anyone who is unwell. Avoid visiting health facilities for non-urgent reasons during this period, as health facilities are the highest-risk settings during an Ebola outbreak.
5. Report any illness promptly — especially after travel
If you have recently returned from DRC or a border area and develop any symptoms within 21 days, you are required to self-quarantine under Ministry of Health supervision and report to the nearest health facility immediately. Do not go to class. Do not share transport. Call ahead to the health facility so they can prepare.
6. Follow your university’s official guidance
Makerere University, MUST, Kyambogo, UCU, and other institutions are expected to communicate official guidance through their health centres, student portals, and notice boards. Follow these instructions. If your university has set up health screening points or changed gathering policies, comply with them.
7. Do not spread misinformation
Social media is flooded with false claims about Ebola. Before you share anything, verify it with the Uganda Ministry of Health (health.go.ug), WHO Uganda, or a trusted news source. Spreading misinformation during a health emergency is harmful and, in Uganda, may have legal consequences under existing public health law.
Who to Call
| Contact | Number / Channel |
|---|---|
| Uganda Ministry of Health Ebola Hotline | 0800-100-066 (toll-free) |
| Mulago National Referral Hospital | +256 414 541 188 |
| Ministry of Health Uganda (official) | health.go.ug |
| WHO Uganda | @WHOUganda on X (Twitter) |
| Red Cross Uganda | +256 41 4258701 |
If you are on a university campus with a health centre, go there first. They will follow the Ministry of Health’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Ebola screening.
A Word on Mental Health
Health emergencies create anxiety — that is normal. But panic is counterproductive and can lead to dangerous behaviour, including stigmatising people from western Uganda or the DRC.
If you are feeling anxious, talk to a friend, a counsellor at your university, or a trusted adult. Remember that Uganda has successfully contained Ebola outbreaks before — in 2000, 2007, 2011, and 2022 — and the health system has hard-won experience dealing with this disease.
Stay calm. Stay informed. Follow the guidance.
The risk to a Kampala university student going about their daily life remains low. Ebola is not airborne. Your practical risk is primarily managed through hand hygiene, avoiding contact with symptomatic people, and knowing when and how to report illness.
The situation is being monitored daily. CampusBee will continue to update this page with the latest guidance from the Uganda Ministry of Health and WHO.
