Health 30 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Buganda Kingdom Establishes Epidemic Committee to Bolster Ebola Prevention
Buganda Kingdom has launched a dedicated Epidemic Response Committee, chaired by Information Minister Israel Kitooke, to enhance community preparedness and support government initiatives against Ebola and other infectious diseases. The committee aims to coordinate awareness, prevention, and response efforts across the kingdom. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/buganda-launches-epidemic-committee-to-support-ebola-prevention-efforts-5514348
Buganda Kingdom has taken a proactive step in public health by forming an Epidemic Response Committee to bolster efforts against Ebola and other potential disease outbreaks. This initiative aims to strengthen community readiness and work in tandem with the Ministry of Health’s containment strategies.
The committee, led by Information Minister Israel Kitooke, was introduced by the Second Deputy Katikkiro, Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa. Nsibirwa highlighted Buganda’s history of successful collaborations with the government on public health crises, referencing past involvement in campaigns against HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
“Buganda has always been at the forefront of addressing public health challenges,” Nsibirwa stated, emphasizing that the Kingdom’s extensive reach through its cultural structures makes preparedness crucial, especially given the influx of international visitors. A disaster management handbook has also been developed to guide communities in emergency responses.
Officials from the Ministry of Health lauded Buganda’s commitment, noting the success in containing the recent Ebola cases through rigorous contact tracing and quarantine measures. Commissioner for Health Promotion and Education, Richard Kabanda, praised Uganda’s robust disease surveillance system, experienced healthcare professionals, and advanced laboratory capabilities, which allow for rapid test result turnaround.
Kabanda urged the Kingdom to leverage its established networks, including clan leaders and media outlets like CBS FM and BBS Television, to disseminate public health information, promote prevention practices, and encourage the timely reporting of suspected cases. He also cautioned against dangerous cultural practices like exhuming bodies of Ebola victims, as this significantly increases infection risk, and called for efforts to combat stigma against survivors.