NHLDS Applauded for Swift and Precise Response During 2025 Ebola Outbreak
26 April 2025- Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2025 Sudan virus (SUDV) Ebola outbreak, less than three months after it began. The quick containment is being credited to the outstanding work of the National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS) and its partners.
The first confirmed case was identified by the NHLDS Central Emergency Response and Surveillance Laboratory (CERSL) in record time, within 12 hours of sample collection. Throughout the outbreak, NHLDS, together with the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and Mobile Laboratories stationed in Mbale and Bwera, tested over 2,500 samples, confirming a total of 12 Ebola cases.
Uganda’s extensive experience in outbreak management, strengthened by years of investment in laboratory capacity, was pivotal to the success of the response.
"We are intentional in building our healthcare systems so that future responses are less costly, drawing on previous investments," stated Hon. Minister of Health, Hon.Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, commended Uganda’s laboratory systems:
"Over the years, we applaud Uganda for building strong laboratory capacity that enables it to confirm epidemics with speed and precision,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa.
The achievements were recognized during the End of Ebola response ceremony in Mbale, which was presided over by Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, and U.S. Ambassador to Uganda William Popp.
NHLDS Commissioner Dr. Susan Nabadda then led the decommissioning of the mobile lab at Mbale RRH. She expressed gratitude to the laboratory teams and partners, including WHO, CDC, Africa CDC, Global Fund, and KOFIH.
She adds that their contribution, resilience and hard work during this outbreak enabled the Lab Pillar to contribute significantly to the 2025 SUDV response efforts. She also encouraged all laboratory team members to document lessons learned, which will be vital inputs for the After-Action Review to refine future outbreak responses.
