UK Gives Uganda Shs9bn to Fight Ebola 

The United Kingdom government has given Uganda £2.2m (about Shs9.6bn) to fight the Ebola Virus Disease in the country. 

This was revealed on Monday by the Development Director at the British High Commission in Kampala, Phillip Smith, during a media engagement on the Ebola Outbreak and Response at the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Wandegeya, Kampala. 

The press conference was meant to announce the 4th health alliance symposium which will be held virtually on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, to highlight the partnership in strengthening health systems and to explore future partnerships between them in the health sector.

“The UK Government stands with Uganda in tackling the Ebola outbreak,” said Smith.

“The UK is a longstanding friend of Uganda and we continue to deepen the development Partnership and people-to-people relationships between our two countries.”

He said in the Ebola Outbreak, the UK has so far contributed Ugx 9bn to support the Ministry of Health through the World Food Programme (WFP),  United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund  (UNICEF), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Logistics, Community Engagement, WASH and coordination of the response.

According to Smith, between 2018 and 2019, the UK spent about £10m (Shs43.9bn) preparing Uganda to respond to an Ebola outbreak. 

He said they are working to support the establishment of a 640-acre pharmaceutical industrial park in Nakasongola that can accommodate over 250 small to medium size manufacturing plants.

“The UK Government has been key in supporting different organisations (NGOs), the Ministry of Health and Mulitilareral agencies to address different global health issues in the Health Sector,” said Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Ministry’s Director of General Health Services. 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, has asked the Ministry of Education and Sports to consider early examinations for non-candidate classes so that schools can close early for the third term holidays. 

Dr Aceng said the move is aimed to decongest schools and minimise the risk of spreading Ebola.