The sad news coming through to our desk indicates that Mubende Reginal Referral Hospital (MRRH) Laboratory Technician Mr. Walugembe John Grace is dead. Mr. Walugembe died on Sunday, October 16, 2022, of the viral Ebola Virus and his death has been confirmed by MRRH and Uganda Allied Health Professionals Associations Alliance.
The current Mubende, Kassanda Ebola outbreak is an ongoing outbreak due to the Sudan ebolavirus, which causes Ebola. It is Uganda’s fifth outbreak with Sudan ebolavirus and the infections were declared an outbreak on 20 September 2022 by the Ugandan Ministry of Health.
The outbreak began in early September in Mubende, about 80km (50 miles) from the capital Kampala, and has remained the epicentre of the virus with only a few rare cases that managed to escape into Kampala, the capital city but are being curbed well.
John died a day after President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced a three-week lockdown in the two districts as the country battles an Ebola outbreak. Bars, nightclubs, places of worship, and entertainment venues will be closed in Mubende and neighbouring Kassanda, and a curfew will come into force.
The move is a contrary to the first communication given by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who previously said there was no need for such measures.
