AGP Executive Report

Ebola Update (Uganda): WHO and Africa CDC have declared Uganda Ebola-free after 42 days without a new confirmed case, following the discharge of the last imported patient on 16 July; officials say travel restrictions should be lifted, while the regional risk remains tied to the ongoing outbreak in eastern DR Congo. Ebola Update (DR Congo): Congo’s outbreak is still accelerating, reaching 60 health zones after spreading to two new zones in North Kivu; cases now stand at 5,794 with 2,786 deaths, amid insecurity, displacement and health worker strikes. Vaccines & Testing: DR Congo has started vaccinating front-line workers with Ervebo while trials continue for Bundibugyo-specific options; meanwhile, EU4Health/HaDEA signed new contracts to boost RT-PCR testing kits and diagnostics for Bundibugyo detection. Public Health (Infant Nutrition): Nutritionists in Masaka warn mothers against feeding babies under six months with foods like cassava porridge, stressing breast milk as the recommended option to curb malnutrition. Community Health (Water & Sanitation): Reports from Busoga highlight unsafe, shared water sources and open defecation pressures that raise the risk of waterborne diseases. Health & Society: Uganda’s Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV died at 34, prompting renewed public attention to health secrecy and access to care abroad.

Ebola Update (DRC): UN chief António Guterres says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fastest-spreading and largest in the country’s history, with 5,656 cases and 2,715 deaths and about 500 new infections weekly, warning the response is only 48% funded and could run out within weeks unless an extra $1.1bn is raised. Vaccination Drive (DRC): DRC has started vaccinating front-line health workers in Kisangani using the Ervebo vaccine, while officials note it’s licensed for another strain and effectiveness against the Bundibugyo variant is still being tested. Uganda Ebola-Free (Recognition): WHO’s Africa office and WHO confirmed Uganda is Ebola-free after 42 days without a new confirmed case, with 20 total cases and 18 recoveries; Uganda also received a formal WHO certificate for interrupting transmission. Ebola Preparedness (Uganda): The US donated monoclonal antibody treatment MBP134 to Uganda’s Ministry of Health to speed up response if cases are imported from the DRC. Health & Community: In Katanga, a US televangelist praised Uganda’s open-door refugee policy during a humanitarian outreach for thousands of vulnerable residents. King Oyo (Health/Uncertainty): Tooro Kingdom confirmed King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has died at 34 after weeks of health rumours and public uncertainty.

Ebola Update (Uganda): WHO and Africa CDC declared Uganda Ebola-free after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case, following the discharge of the last imported patient on July 16; Uganda recorded 20 cases and two deaths, with over 800 contacts monitored, while WHO urged countries that imposed travel restrictions to lift them. Ebola Update (DRC): The crisis is still worsening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with UN chief António Guterres warning the outbreak is spreading faster than containment, as cases and deaths continue to rise across multiple provinces. Vaccine Push: CEPI announced an Ebola vaccine candidate for the Bundibugyo strain moving into clinical trials, alongside reports of vaccine-related planning and safety response efforts. Cancer Care Funding: Parliament deposited Shs3bn into the Rotary Cancer Run account to support construction and equipping of a cancer treatment centre at St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya. Oral Health Alarm: Uganda’s oral health workforce shortage is driving major economic losses, with low access to dental services and rising oral disease burden. School Dropouts: A “One Million Books” campaign launch highlighted a growing primary school dropout problem linked to poverty, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy. Nutrition & Food Safety: Advocates renewed calls for front-of-pack warning labels as experts warn ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats are fuelling non-communicable diseases.

Ebola Update: WHO has declared Uganda Ebola-free after 42 days without a new confirmed case, following 20 cases and two deaths linked to DR Congo; Uganda will still keep surveillance as Congo’s Bundibugyo outbreak continues to surge, with WHO warning transmission is “very active” and citing an urgent $30m funding gap. Border Preparedness: Busia health authorities intensified Ebola awareness and screening at Malaba and Busia One-Stop Border Posts, reporting hundreds of thousands screened and urging residents to avoid unnecessary cross-border travel. Lab Capacity Boost: Uganda received a $500,000 mobile Biosafety Level-3 lab to speed up Ebola and other high-risk outbreak detection, with plans to deploy where need is greatest, including possible support to DR Congo. Oral Health Crisis: Uganda’s oral health plan faces a major staffing gap, with only about half of 1,330 registered dental practitioners holding active licences; the Ministry is seeking Shs131b for a National Oral Health Strategy to expand access and cut the heavy burden of dental disease. HIV/TB/Malaria Access Barriers: A new Equal Opportunities Commission assessment highlights that poverty, distance, stigma and disability are blocking vulnerable groups from reaching services and staying on treatment. Community Support: Standard Chartered Bank Uganda donated UGX 186m to Save the Children to strengthen Ebola prevention and child-focused risk communication.

Ebola Update: WHO says Uganda’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is over, but DR Congo’s outbreak is still accelerating, with cases above 5,600 and a warned $30m funding gap threatening containment. Maternal & Newborn Care: A multi-country hospital intervention in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda linked training, quality improvement and mentoring to a 22% drop in early stillbirths and newborn deaths. Oral Health Push: Uganda’s Ministry of Health seeks Shs131b for a National Oral Health Strategy 2025–2030 as oral disease costs Shs240b annually and access to quality services remains under 4%. TB Vaccine Trial: A new TB vaccine candidate (VPM1002) failed to outperform standard BCG in preventing TB infection in newborns in a phase 3 trial. Cancer Services: Uganda Cancer Institute takes delivery of new endoscopy and screening equipment via a Korea partnership to reduce referrals for basic GI scans. Health System Safety: St Francis Hospital Nsambya begins a waste management unit with Centenary Bank support to improve safe handling of healthcare waste. Transport & Access to Care: Heavy rains damaged northern Uganda roads, raising transport costs and disrupting access to emergency medical services. Data Protection Risk: Regulators warn over 500,000 entities are collecting personal data illegally, exposing citizens to fraud and identity theft. Road Safety Crackdown: Authorities intensify checks on dangerously unroadworthy commuter taxis, citing visible defects like tyres, lights, reflectors and wipers.

Cancer care upgrade: Uganda Cancer Institute has received new high-definition video endoscopes and screening tools through a Korea-backed partnership, aiming to stop patients being turned away for basic procedures. Cancer survivor spotlight: A Ugandan Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, diagnosed at age five, is using his family story to push for earlier, more accessible care. Ebola response pressure: With Bundibugyo Ebola spreading in DR Congo, health workers face misinformation and distrust; Uganda is also mentioned in regional case links, while new US travel rules tighten boarding for travellers with recent DRC history. Public health funding reality: WHO says Africa is still making health gains despite sharp global funding cuts, including progress in TB treatment and HIV care continuity. School sanitation alarm: Mukono raises red flags over unsafe school sanitation, linking it to attendance and learning, with a grant-backed push to build improved facilities. Food and farm regulation: Government tables a bill to create a single authority to regulate food products, agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines. Diabetes research note: A new study highlights treatment and complication patterns among type 2 diabetes patients in Kigali. Air quality warning: Dhaka’s “moderate” pollution ranking again underscores how air pollution can drive respiratory and heart risks.

Ebola response in focus: Uganda is linked to the fast-moving Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, where cases and deaths keep rising and health workers face misinformation and insecurity; WHO and Africa CDC continue pushing updated guidance and vaccine deployment, while new travel restrictions are being discussed across the region. Health system capacity: NCHE has started assessing about 700 university programmes to align with the competence-based education and training system for 2027/2028, with STEM-heavy and humanities programmes both under review—an important pipeline issue for future health workers. Cancer care access: Cabinet approved borrowing about Shs 139bn (€31.98m) from France to build and equip a regional oncology centre in Mbarara, aiming to reduce pressure on Uganda Cancer Institute and cut long-distance treatment costs. Maternal health signals: Uganda’s C-section rates have nearly tripled in a decade, raising questions about medical necessity and safe service delivery. School sanitation: Mukono flagged declining sanitation standards in schools, with overcrowding and unsafe toilets affecting attendance and learning, as partners move to build improved facilities. Accountability in health finance: Parliament ordered arrest of top management at the Microfinance Support Centre over alleged failures tied to losses and loan write-offs—another reminder that health outcomes depend on sound public systems.

Ebola in DR Congo: Congo’s health authorities report 5,515 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,642 deaths, with a near-48% fatality rate, as the outbreak keeps spreading fast across eastern provinces. Humanitarian access under threat: Red Cross teams say attacks on volunteers and ambulances are worsening the response, with six workers injured in recent incidents across Ituri, Haut-Uele and North Kivu. Uganda’s tech for care: Uganda faces a radiology workforce gap (fewer than 60 radiologists for over 45 million people), and Luna Diagnostics is building an AI tool to analyse medical images quickly to support faster diagnosis. Cancer prevention push: Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed support for the Rotary Cancer Run (Aug 30), citing past gains in screenings and funding toward a new cancer centre at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya. Health regulation leadership: President Mahama opened AMCOA in Accra, urging stronger African medical regulation, safer online consultations, and better data systems to protect patients and advance universal health coverage. Maternal health funding: Stanbic and Rotary-backed efforts continue to support maternal and child health initiatives. Connectivity for remote health services: Paratus Uganda launched Starlink for enterprise customers, aiming to improve reliable internet access for sectors including healthcare in hard-to-reach areas.

Ebola in DRC: The Red Cross says attacks on volunteers and ambulances are worsening the fight against the country’s worst-ever Ebola outbreak, with six workers injured in incidents across Ituri, North Kivu and Haut-Uele, as Congo’s lab-confirmed cases rise to 5,515 and deaths to 2,642. Uganda health updates: Uganda has been declared free of the latest polio outbreak after WHO assessments found transmission of polio type 2 stopped, but officials warn surveillance and immunisation must continue. Maternal & newborn care: A new study at Kawempe National Referral Hospital reports high stillbirth, preterm birth and neonatal mortality rates, highlighting gaps in perinatal outcomes. Men’s health: A new men-only clinic in Iganga opens to tackle prostate enlargement, infertility and erectile dysfunction, aiming to reduce delays caused by stigma. Community health & safety: Police outline exemptions for the Aug. 29 National Cleaning Day, including people going to health facilities and those with medical appointments, to protect access to care. Health rights & access: UNAIDS’ Winnie Byanyima urges authorities to allow Kizza Besigye to travel for urgent medical treatment, calling his detention care cruel. Wellness innovation: A waterless toilet invention (iThrone) is being deployed in Uganda and other countries to improve sanitation where plumbing is limited.

Polio Update: Uganda and four other African countries have been cleared of the latest polio outbreak after WHO assessments found no ongoing transmission of polio type 2—an important win, but officials warn vaccination and surveillance must continue. Maternal & Newborn Health: A study at Kawempe National Referral Hospital reports high stillbirth (26.3 per 1,000), preterm birth (110.9 per 1,000) and neonatal mortality (22.5 per 1,000), with higher risk for premature babies—highlighting urgent gaps in perinatal care. Neurosurgery Capacity: Mulago carried out 80 complex brain surgeries in a two-week camp, treating tumours, hydrocephalus, skull deformities and other critical conditions, including adult and paediatric cases. HIV Prevention Alarm (Kampala): Stakeholders report a sharp rise in new HIV infections in Kampala—averaging 211 cases weekly—linked to factors such as unregulated sexual services, violence, inequalities and social media exposure, calling for faster prevention targeting young people. Ebola in DRC: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is worsening fast, with 5,515 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths; attacks on response teams and insecurity are disrupting care and burials, while Pope Leo XIV urges stronger international action. Health System Support: MTN Uganda ended its Y’ello Care campaign by backing maternal and newborn services at Karita Health Centre IV in Amudat with equipment, solar power, digital tools and support for Village Health Teams. Child Protection Probe (Jinja): Police are investigating allegations that a headteacher facilitated sexual exploitation of female students by a senior six student, with multiple complaints reported.

HIV in Kampala: A KCCA review of 649,570 tests (Jul 2025–Jun 2026) found at least 211 new HIV infections weekly—about 30 per day—raising alarm over unregulated sex work settings, domestic violence, inequality, and social media-driven exposure, with women forming 64% of tests and 62% of new positives. Ebola crisis in DRC: The Bundibugyo-strain outbreak is now the deadliest in the country’s history, with WHO reporting thousands of cases and deaths and warning it’s spreading faster than containment, as insecurity disrupts care and contact tracing. Uganda health system support: MTN Uganda ends its Y’ello Care campaign with Shs600m+ support for maternal and newborn care at Karita Health Centre IV in Amudat, including equipment, solar, digital tools, and Village Health Team support. Maternal & newborn pressure: Masaka Regional Referral Hospital says it records about 160 preterm births monthly, urging stronger antenatal care to reduce risks from unmanaged hypertension, infections, and malaria. Medical access & policy: Uganda’s Auditor General debate on Uganda Airlines ownership is resurfacing, while a separate medical report on detained opposition figure Kizza Besigye says he can understand proceedings but can’t speak or write, potentially limiting his defence participation.

Ebola Response: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is still racing ahead of containment, with the death toll now topping 2,500 and the spread described as “growing exponentially,” leaving health workers under intense pressure. Frontline Conditions: Reports from treatment centres highlight staff stress and unpaid bonuses, raising fears that morale and service quality could slip as cases surge. Regional Preparedness: ECSA-HC has launched a six-month emergency push to strengthen border health teams across major trade and migration corridors, aiming to detect, isolate and report suspected cases faster. Maternal Health Pressure: Masaka Regional Referral Hospital says it records at least 160 preterm births monthly, blaming gaps in antenatal care and unmanaged infections, malaria and hypertension. Health Service Gaps: Luuka’s Kiyunga Health Centre IV is overwhelmed by bed, power and diagnostic shortages, forcing some mothers to seek care in private clinics. Public Health & Waste: Uganda’s Ministry of Health urges household waste sorting ahead of National Cleaning Day to reduce unsafe disposal and burning risks. Air Quality Alert: Kampala is among the most polluted cities in the world on AQI reports, with “unhealthy” air posing risks especially for sensitive groups. Cancer & Care: A palliative care feature follows a mother seeking urgent support after cancer treatment, spotlighting the need for pain relief and quality-of-life services.

Ebola Response: Eastern DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is spreading “exponentially,” with deaths now reported above 2,500 and cases above 5,000, as WHO and aid partners warn response capacity is being outpaced; Border Health: ECSA-HC has launched a six-month emergency push at 33 border points of entry along major trade and migration corridors (including Uganda) to strengthen early detection, safe isolation and rapid notification; Cancer & Palliative Care: A two-day Uganda focus highlights how cancer patients can access palliative care to manage pain and improve quality of life; Maternal Health Pressure: Masaka Regional Referral Hospital reports at least 160 preterm births monthly, urging stronger antenatal care; Facility Shortages: Luuka’s Kiyunga Health Centre IV is struggling with bed, diagnostic and power shortages, forcing some mothers to sleep on the floor; Health Workforce & Safety: Uganda’s UPDF recruitment continues with medical screening sending some applicants to hospital after collapse; Public Health & Safety: Kampala’s Nansana residents say dangerous Hoima Road crossings are causing frequent pedestrian injuries, often involving boda boda riders.

Ebola Emergency: The DRC’s Ebola outbreak is spreading “exponentially,” with deaths now reported above 2,500 and the UN warning the response is being outpaced as insecurity, attacks on medical teams, and funding gaps worsen the crisis. Cross-Border Preparedness: ECSA Health Community has launched a six-month Ebola emergency push at 33 DRC border entry points, including digital surveillance and safer isolation protocols, with Uganda among targeted transit countries. Uganda Response: Uganda plans to send health workers to South Sudan for Ebola response support, citing the risk from free movement and illegal entry points. Maternal Health Investment: Stanbic Bank will commit Shs200m annually for 10 years to maternal and child health, linking better outcomes to Uganda’s economic growth goals. Health Access for Disabilities: UNAB says over 90% of people with visual impairment can’t afford white canes and is appealing for government and partner support. Air Quality Alert: Kampala is among the most polluted cities in the world this weekend, with “unhealthy” air levels raising respiratory risk. Local Health Infrastructure: West Nile MP Jonam MP Jonam MP urges Parliament to fix Pakwach’s health centre gaps, including lack of a mortuary, ambulance, and a male ward.

Ebola Crisis in DRC: The UN and WHO say the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak is growing “exponentially,” with deaths now above 2,500 and cases surpassing 5,000, as health systems struggle and humanitarian funding gaps slow response. Regional Border Readiness: ECSA-HC has launched a six-month cross-border emergency push at 33 priority entry points along the DRC border, including Uganda, to strengthen screening, isolation, lab transport, and real-time surveillance. Vaccine Push: DRC has received an initial 70,000 Ervebo doses, with part earmarked for a Phase III trial to test protection against Bundibugyo virus, while frontline vaccination begins. Uganda’s Response: Uganda plans to send health workers to South Sudan for Ebola support and is also deploying screening at gazetted border points to reduce importation risk. Maternal Health Investment: Stanbic commits Shs200m annually for 10 years to maternal and child health, linking safer motherhood to Uganda’s future productivity. Disability Care: UNAB appeals for support for white canes, saying most visually impaired Ugandans still can’t afford them. Cancer Concern: Uganda Cancer Institute findings highlight rising cancer cases in the Rwenzori region, with alcohol, smoking, and poor diets cited as key drivers. Intern Allowance Debate: Medical interns question the Shs1m monthly net allowance, arguing it falls short of basic living costs. Aquaculture Skills: A Norwegian-funded Samaki Poa project is training aquaculture entrepreneurs in Uganda and the region through hubs that also improve access to fingerlings.

Ebola Response in DRC: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo keeps worsening, with WHO and partners warning it’s far from under control as cases and deaths rise; Vaccine Rollout: Gavi and CEPI are backing the emergency push, including approval and release of 70,000 Ervebo doses from the stockpile and studies to see how well existing Ebola vaccines work against Bundibugyo; Travel Alerts: U.S. aviation guidance advises travelers to avoid boarding after recent DRC exposure and to use designated entry airports if they’ve been in Uganda or South Sudan; Maternal Health Funding: Stanbic Bank and Rotary Mama Toto Care Uganda sign a sh600m partnership aimed at strengthening public facilities and cutting preventable maternal and newborn deaths; Malaria Burden Warning: A research network flags Africa’s heavy malaria load and urges sustained surveillance and public health messaging; Sickle Cell Nutrition Study: New research reports daily zinc (20mg) reduced infections by nearly 40% in Ugandan children under 5 with sickle cell anemia; Food Safety: UK salmonella cases linked to imported eggs continue to raise concerns about egg handling and vulnerable groups; Animal Health Threat: African swine fever spreads to at least six Kenyan counties, threatening pig farmers with high mortalities and no cure.