Ugandans who always dismiss disease outbreak announcements as alarmist are experiencing epidemic fatigue, Dr Richard Kabanda, commissioner for health promotion and education has said.
On January 30, 2025, the ministry of Health declared an Ebola Sudan virus outbreak after a 32-year-old male nurse from Mulago National Referral hospital succumbed to the disease.
So far, nine cases have been confirmed, with one fatality. Seven patients remain hospitalized at Mulago, while one is receiving treatment at Mbale Regional Referral hospital.
Authorities have also quarantined 288 contacts and urged Ugandans to take precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus. In recent years, Uganda has grappled with multiple disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, anthrax, Marburg, and Mpox, illnesses that often trigger concern among foreign travelers.
However, some Ugandans, particularly tourism operators and business owners, accuse the ministry of Health of fueling unnecessary panic. They argue that repeated outbreak announcements damage the economy and have called for a revised communication strategy.
Amos Wekesa, a leading tourism investor, warned that such alerts disrupt the industry, causing tourists to divert to alternative destinations.
“There will never be a disease outbreak or any attack that will ever kill more Ugandans than poverty. Our biggest enemy is poverty,” Wekesa said.
Others question why the government does not make similar high-profile announcements about malaria, which remains Uganda’s leading cause of death.
Speaking on a local talk show, Dr Kabanda acknowledged these frustrations, attributing the public’s dismissive attitude to epidemic fatigue, which in turn weakens public health responses. He emphasized that Uganda’s vulnerability to outbreaks is due to its geographical location, which is surrounded by epidemic-prone countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Kabanda further explained that, under international health regulations, the government is required to declare any confirmed outbreak within 24 hours.
“When a case is confirmed, we immediately brief the President, who authorizes the Ministry of Health to announce the outbreak. We also engage MDAs and other partners,” he said.
He reassured the public that the current Ebola outbreak is under control and urged vigilance to prevent further spread. According to the World Health Organization, timely outbreak communication is critical in helping the public adopt protective behaviours, strengthening disease surveillance, reducing misinformation, and ensuring effective resource allocation—all key to managing epidemics successfully.