Sweden injects sh7b into Uganda Ebola fight

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KAMPALA – The Government of Sweden has announced funding of up to $2m (about shillings 7.3 billion) into the Sudan Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak response in Uganda.

The contribution being channelled through UNICEF over five months, is expected to support the immediate priorities of the Government of Uganda’s national Sudan EVD plan with a focus on Kampala, its five political divisions, and the districts of Mbale and Jinja.

The focus of the response, according to UNICEF spokesperson Catherine Ntabadde, will include activities on intensified sustained risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and other needs such as nutrition and mental health and psychosocial support. 

"With this funding, UNICEF together with Ministry of Health and other partners will strengthen efforts to sustain coordination efforts at the sub-national level and prevent the spread of EVD," she said in a statement issued Monday, March 17, 2025.

The outbreak 

The development follows the outbreak of the Sudan EVD, which was announced on January 30, this year after the death of a male nurse working at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala city. The outbreak has so far had a total of nine cases with eight in Kampala and one in Mbale.

The health ministry on February 18, 2025, discharged all Ebola patients from the two isolation and treatment centres (Mulago seven and Mbale one).

The announcement was made by health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, who said Uganda has successfully contained the virus.

Community engagement 

Ntabadde says UNICEF will also collaborate with the Government and partners to intensify targeted risk communication and community engagement to ensure that communities are aware of Ebola prevention measures, recognise signs and symptoms and are able to seek early care and/or report suspected cases to interrupt transmission in communities.

"A total of 8.1 million people is anticipated to benefit, both directly and indirectly, from the interventions," the statement reads.

Swedish international development co-operation and foreign trade minister Benjamin Dousa revealed the new funding during the visit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, where UNICEF is contributing to the delivery of quality maternal and newborn care health services with funding from Sweden.

“Sweden has supported response to previous outbreaks of Ebola in Uganda. We are glad to partner with UNICEF to again provide critical support to the response to the ongoing outbreak in Uganda. Sweden’s contribution will strengthen the Government of Uganda and local systems at national, sub-national and community levels for timely prevention and response,” he said.

UNICEF representative to Uganda Dr Robin Nandy thanked the Government of Sweden for the new funding and sustained relationship over the years which has contributed to building stronger health systems and ending preventable deaths, especially of children and mothers in Uganda. He particularly thanked the Government of Sweden for supporting emergency responses, including during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including mass vaccinations, reopening of schools and the re-entry of pregnant and teenage mothers to school.

“With the Swedish Government funding, our critical support to the Government of Uganda’s response plan will be strengthened. We believe that a sustained integrated response will result in the containment of the outbreak, saving the lives of children, women and their families,” Nandy said.