IOM Uganda

IOM Uganda International Organization for Migration, established in 1951 (est. 1988 in Uganda), is the leading Intergovernmental organization dealing with migration.

SUSTAINING COMMUNITY VIGILANCE AS UGANDA BEGINS THE 42-DAY COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE EBOLA OUTBREAKSince 15 May, Ugand...
21/07/2026

SUSTAINING COMMUNITY VIGILANCE AS UGANDA BEGINS THE 42-DAY COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE EBOLA OUTBREAK

Since 15 May, Uganda has been responding to an outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease linked to cross-border transmission from the Democratic Republic of Congo. With support from IOM and other partners, the Ministry of Health has strengthened preparedness, border surveillance, and community engagement efforts in high-risk communities.

With 20 confirmed cases and two deaths recorded, and no new infections reported since 22 June, Uganda has now entered the 42-day countdown to the official end of the outbreak following the discharge of the last confirmed patient. The countdown period is critical to ensuring that no new cases emerge.

To help sustain vigilance during this period, IOM, with support from the United States Government through , is working alongside the Ministry of Health to equip frontline community health workers in Amuru District with the skills and tools needed to keep their communities informed and alert.

One of them is Village Health Team (VHT) member Betty Mafura of Bibia village, who goes door-to-door sharing information on disease surveillance, infection prevention and control, and the importance of reporting Ebola-related alerts promptly.

"I move door-to-door and use my megaphone to bring people together, whether in the marketplace, at church, or anywhere in the village, to make sure they understand the message", Mafura explains.

200 VILLAGE HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS (VHTs) TRAINED IN COMMUNITY BASED SURVEILLANCE TO STRENGHTHEN EBOLA RESPONSE IN NAMISIND...
14/07/2026

200 VILLAGE HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS (VHTs) TRAINED IN COMMUNITY BASED SURVEILLANCE TO STRENGHTHEN EBOLA RESPONSE IN NAMISINDWA DISTRICT

A strong Ebola response begins in communities. Through community-based disease surveillance, trained community members can identify and report unusual illnesses and suspected cases early, helping health authorities respond quickly and prevent further spread.

In Namisindwa District, 200 Village Health Team (VHT) members are strengthening their skills in community-based disease surveillance through a three-day training supported by IOM and the Ministry of Health.

As trusted members of their communities, VHTs are often the first to notice unusual illnesses, support health education, and connect people to care.

During the training, participants are learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of Ebola and how to promptly report suspected cases to nearby health facilities for investigation and response.

By strengthening community surveillance, Uganda is enhancing its capacity to detect public health threats early and respond quickly to help keep communities safe.

This activity is part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health and IOM to reinforce Uganda's Ebola preparedness and response, with support from the U.S State Department.

MAPPING MOVEMENT TO STRENGTHEN EBOLA PREPAREDNESS ALONG THE UGANDA- DRC BORDER Cross-border movement has been a defining...
10/07/2026

MAPPING MOVEMENT TO STRENGTHEN EBOLA PREPAREDNESS ALONG THE UGANDA- DRC BORDER

Cross-border movement has been a defining feature of recent Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting the need to understand how people travel, trade and access services across border communities.

In Arua City and Arua District, IOM is leading a Population Mobility Mapping Exercise to better understand how movement patterns could influence disease transmission and identify locations where preparedness and surveillance efforts can have the greatest impact.

Supported by the U.S. Department of State, IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) and Migration Health teams are using a baseline questionnaire to translate community knowledge into actionable mobility data. The exercise documents distances between points of entry, access to congregation areas such as markets and health facilities, the availability of water and sanitation facilities, infection prevention and control measures, screening and risk communication activities, as well as the presence of health workers and government authorities.

The locations of points of entry, movement routes and congregation areas identified through the exercise will also be validated in the field, with GPS coordinates collected to build databases and develop mobility maps that support preparedness and cross-border surveillance efforts.

The findings will help health authorities and partners better understand mobility-related risks, strengthen cross-border coordination, and target preparedness measures where they are needed most.

26/06/2026

ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF HEALTH WORKERS TO DEPLOY TRAVELER LOCATOR FORMS AT UGANDA'S BORDER POINTS

With funding from the US Government, Ministry of Health, in collaboration with IOM Uganda, is strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers to use traveler locator forms for rapid contact tracing, screening, and monitoring cross-border movement.

The traveler locator form captures essential health and travel information, enabling timely follow-up of individuals who may be at risk. Before travelling to Uganda, passengers complete the form and receive a confirmation message or reference code that is required on arrival.

This digital tool complements other public health measures, including temperature screening at points of entry, community-based surveillance, and risk communication and community engagement, helping to keep communities safe from public health threats.

REGIONAL EFFORTS INTENSIFY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF EBOLAOn 15 May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) decl...
26/06/2026

REGIONAL EFFORTS INTENSIFY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF EBOLA

On 15 May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared its 17th outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following laboratory confirmation of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain. The strain was last detected in Uganda between 2007 and 2008 and in the DRC in 2012.

In response, Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners activated the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) to strengthen coordination and preparedness efforts across the region.

As countries work to prevent cross-border transmission and enhance readiness for potential cases, IOM Uganda joined health stakeholders at a high-level meeting to strengthen cross-border collaboration and information exchange for the Ebola response.

Convened by Africa CDC with funding from UKHSA, the meeting brought together health officials from Uganda, the DRC and 11 other countries at high risk of transmission.

The platform will support participating countries to strengthen preparedness and response capacities, particularly in surveillance, epidemiology, cross-border coordination, case management and clinical care.

PARTNERS UNITE TO SUPPORT EBOLA RESPONSE ALONG THE UGANDA–DRC BORDER IN WEST NILE In communities along the Uganda–DRC bo...
18/06/2026

PARTNERS UNITE TO SUPPORT EBOLA RESPONSE ALONG THE UGANDA–DRC BORDER IN WEST NILE

In communities along the Uganda–DRC border, health workers and local leaders are working tirelessly every day to protect lives and prevent the spread of Ebola.

In support of these efforts, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (), IOM, and partners led by UNICEF (), recently visited the West Nile region to hear directly from and see firsthand how health teams and communities are responding to the ongoing outbreak.

The visit provided an opportunity to understand the realities on the ground—from the challenges faced by frontline responders to the resilience and vigilance within communities working to keep each other safe.

Partners are supporting the response in critical areas: border screening and surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC) at major points of entry and exit, and risk communication in communities.

Strengthening coordination and working closely with local teams remains essential to ensure a timely, effective, and well-targeted response.

PROTECTING COMMUNICATIES AND BORDERS: IOM’S INTERGRATED EBOLA RESPONSE AR GOLI BORDER POINT IOM staff stationed at Goli ...
05/06/2026

PROTECTING COMMUNICATIES AND BORDERS: IOM’S INTERGRATED EBOLA RESPONSE AR GOLI BORDER POINT

IOM staff stationed at Goli border point in Nebbi District continue to play a critical role in Uganda’s ongoing Ebola response, implementing a combination of prevention, screening, and community engagement interventions.

At the point of entry, frontline teams are carrying out stringent infection prevention and control measures, including the disinfection of vehicles entering the country to reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.

Health screenings are also conducted, with travellers undergoing temperature checks and being guided on proper hand hygiene practices at designated handwashing facilities.

Beyond the border, IOM staff are actively engaging surrounding communities through risk communication and community awareness sessions.

These sessions provide essential information on Ebola transmission, symptoms, and prevention measures, empowering community members to protect themselves and report suspected cases promptly.

These integrated efforts at Goli border highlight IOM’s commitment to strengthening border health security while working closely with communities to curb the spread of Ebola.

COMMUNITY HEROES AT THE FRONLINE OF EBOLA RESPONSEIn Uganda, Village Health Teams (VHTs) play a vital role in bridging t...
02/06/2026

COMMUNITY HEROES AT THE FRONLINE OF EBOLA RESPONSE

In Uganda, Village Health Teams (VHTs) play a vital role in bridging the gap between underserved households and the formal health system. For many communities, they are the first point of contact for healthcare—especially during disease outbreaks.

As part of the national response to the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, the Ministry of Health is leveraging this trusted community network to strengthen prevention and control efforts.

With support from IOM Uganda, VHTs in parts of Kampala where urban transmission has been identified are being trained to enhance Community-Based Surveillance. This effort is improving the detection, reporting, and triage of community alerts.

Following the training, VHTs will carry out daily active surveillance within their communities. This includes systematically visiting households, schools, markets, places of worship, and other gathering points to identify and report individuals suspected of having Ebola based on symptoms.

Together, these community heroes are helping to protect lives by ensuring early detection and timely response—one household at a time.

STRENGTHENING EBOLA RESPONSE EFFORTS ACROSS UGANDAIOM Uganda continues to support ongoing Ebola response efforts by stre...
01/06/2026

STRENGTHENING EBOLA RESPONSE EFFORTS ACROSS UGANDA

IOM Uganda continues to support ongoing Ebola response efforts by strengthening frontline response capacity and improving disease surveillance systems across the country.

During the past week, efforts focused on reinforcing screening at key points of entry and equipping community responders with the skills needed to identify and report suspected cases early.

Screeners were supported at major border crossings along the Uganda–DRC corridor, including Elegu, Arua Airfield, Lwakhaha, Goli, Bunagana, Mpondwe and Cyanika, as well as at Entebbe International Airport since the onset of the outbreak, helping to enhance detection and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.

In parallel, responders were trained in community-based disease surveillance, contributing to stronger early warning systems and more effective response at the community level.

Here’s a snapshot of last week’s actions:

Containing Ebola requires coordinated action across borders and within communities. With people constantly on the move, ...
28/05/2026

Containing Ebola requires coordinated action across borders and within communities. With people constantly on the move, strengthening surveillance, supporting frontline workers, and engaging communities play a critical role in preventing the spread of the disease. IOM Uganda continues to work closely with national partners to reinforce preparedness and response efforts where they are needed most.

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6A Bukoto Crescent, Naguru, Kampala
Lugazi

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