Health 22 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Parliament Bars Public from State of Nation Address Amid Ebola Fears
Due to an escalating Ebola outbreak, Uganda's Parliament has restricted attendance for the upcoming State of the Nation Address, prioritizing public health over traditional ceremony. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/parliament-bans-public-attendance-for-2026-state-of-the-nation-address-over-ebola-fears-5469494
Parliament has taken a stringent measure to prevent the spread of the recent Ebola outbreak by prohibiting public and guest attendance at the forthcoming State of the Nation Address.
This decision, announced by Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija on May 22, 2026, comes in response to the World Health Organization declaring the current Ebola surge, fueled by the Bundibugyo virus, a global health emergency. Imported cases have already surfaced in Kampala, prompting swift action to avert large gatherings.
The address, slated for June 4, 2026, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, will now see a significantly reduced physical presence. Only Members of the 12th Parliament and essential staff will be allowed on-site.
Invited dignitaries, diplomats, and other guests are instructed not to attend in person, with arrangements made for full virtual participation. This follows the recent indefinite postponement of the large-scale Martyrs’ Day celebrations.
The scaled-down State of the Nation Address highlights the severity of the epidemic as health authorities work to contain the virus and trace contacts.