Uganda: Museveni Postpones Martyrs Day Celebrations Over Ebola Threat
The move follows a WHO emergency declaration and at least 80 deaths and 240 suspected cases reported in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
- On Sunday, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced the postponement of the annual Uganda Martyrs' Day celebrations, citing critical public health risks from an Ebola outbreak in Eastern Congo.
- Museveni cited concerns regarding the large influx of pilgrims from Eastern Congo, where the Democratic Republic of Congo reported at least 80 deaths and over 240 suspected cases in the Ituri Province.
- Typically attracting more than 2 million faithful to the Namugongo Shrines annually, the event previously shifted to virtual gatherings in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.
- The President urged pilgrims already en route to return home immediately, stating, "We regret any inconvenience caused, but the protection of life must come first."
- This decision follows the World Health Organisation officially declaring the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, prompting continued surveillance measures across the region.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Ebola Crisis: New Outbreak Forces Uganda to Halt National Pilgrimage
A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has prompted health emergencies across the region, marking rapid transmission beyond its borders. An American missionary tested positive as cases emerged in Uganda and North Kivu. WHO and various global health agencies are responding to the public health emergency amid ongoing challenges.
National Catholic Register
Uganda Postpones Martyrs’ Day Celebrations Over Ebola Fears
Badru Katumba Churchgoers gather for Sunday Mass in Padea, on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 17, 2026. The World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on Sunday over an outbreak of an Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said the decision follows consultations with key stakeholders in the east African nation.
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