The United States government has delivered a potentially lifesaving antibody treatment to Uganda to strengthen the country’s preparedness against Ebola, particularly amid the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo species in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The treatment, known as MBP134, was handed over to the Ministry of Health, with State Minister for Health in charge of Primary Health Care Dr Charles Ayume receiving the vials on behalf of the government. The treatment is now available for immediate use should Uganda register a new Ebola case.
Although Uganda currently has no active Ebola cases, health authorities remain on alert because of the continued outbreak in the DRC, where communities along the border remain vulnerable to cross-border transmission.
The US government said the availability of the treatment could allow Ugandan health workers to respond within hours rather than waiting for a patient’s condition to deteriorate or for the body to develop its own immune response.
US Chargé d’Affaires Mikael Cleverley said the donation was intended to ensure that Uganda is prepared to respond swiftly should the virus cross into the country.
“As Ebola continues to spread in the DRC, the United States is making sure Uganda is ready to act fast,” Cleverley said. “This donation reflects our commitment to Uganda’s health security, because a safer Uganda means a safer world.”
He said the intervention would not only protect Ugandans but also contribute to global health security by helping contain outbreaks before they spread beyond affected communities.
“By helping Uganda act within hours rather than days, the United States is also protecting Americans. An outbreak anywhere is a threat everywhere,” he said.
The US government said the DRC outbreak had grown into the largest Ebola outbreak recorded outside West Africa, with more than 4,500 confirmed cases and over 2,000 deaths as of mid-August 2026.
The figures have heightened concern in Uganda because of its geographical proximity to the DRC and the movement of people across the two countries for trade, family and other activities.
MBP134 was developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical under a contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Unlike the body’s natural immune response, which can take days or weeks to develop, the antibody treatment is designed to recognise and neutralise the Ebola virus immediately.
The treatment has shown effectiveness against multiple Ebola species in pre-clinical studies, including the Bundibugyo species responsible for the current outbreak in the DRC.
The US government said MBP134 is available under compassionate-use arrangements, allowing doctors to administer it to patients when appropriate even as further research into the treatment continues.
The antibody is not commercially available, making the donation particularly important for Uganda’s preparedness efforts.
The latest donation builds on previous US support to Uganda during Ebola preparedness and response efforts.
In April 2025, the US provided support during Uganda’s response to an outbreak of Sudan virus disease, another Ebola-related viral disease.
The US government said its latest intervention demonstrates the importance of continued investment in biomedical research and the development of medical countermeasures that can be deployed during public health emergencies.
It also said the United States has committed more than $619 million across the region towards the Ebola response, making it the largest contributor to regional efforts to contain the disease.
For Uganda, the arrival of MBP134 provides another layer of protection as health authorities continue surveillance at border points and within communities at risk of Ebola transmission.
With no active cases currently reported in the country, the Ministry of Health is expected to keep the treatment in readiness so that it can be deployed quickly if a suspected or confirmed case emerges.
The donation comes as Uganda seeks to strengthen its health security systems and ensure that a future Ebola outbreak can be detected and contained before it develops into a wider public health crisis.
