Standard Chartered Donates $50,000 to Strengthen Uganda’s Ebola Prevention Efforts

Standard Chartered Uganda has donated USD 50,000 (approximately UGX 186 million) to Save the Children Uganda to support efforts aimed at preventing cross-border Ebola transmission and reinfection, while strengthening Uganda’s preparedness against future outbreaks.

The donation was announced during a press engagement and handover ceremony held at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, where the Ministry of Health was represented by Dr. Richard Mugahi, Commissioner for Reproductive and Child Health (RCH).

The contribution will support community-based interventions focused on Ebola prevention messaging, early detection, infection prevention and control, and community preparedness, working alongside the Government and local communities.

Dr Richard Mugahi

Dr. Mugahi said Uganda’s Ebola response remains active despite the country having successfully contained the outbreak, noting that the threat of cross-border transmission continues to require vigilance.

“Responding to outbreaks is damn expensive. Ebola in Uganda is over, but not over. Our teams are still actively engaged. We even have Ugandan teams deployed in DRC,” Dr. Mugahi said.

He stressed the importance of maintaining preparedness and surveillance, particularly given Uganda’s proximity to areas affected by Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks.

The support to Save the Children Uganda is expected to strengthen community-level preparedness and ensure that communities are equipped with information and mechanisms to identify and respond to potential cases early.

The initiative also reinforces collaboration between Government, development partners, civil society organisations and communities in protecting Uganda’s Ebola-free status.

Uganda has previously experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks, making sustained surveillance, infection prevention and community awareness critical components of the country’s public health preparedness.

The latest contribution comes as Uganda continues to strengthen its capacity to detect and respond to potential public health threats, including those that may cross its borders from neighbouring countries.

Last month, the country declared it was ebola free.