Kampala, Uganda. Ireland’s Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, has announced €1 million contribution to support the World Health Organization (WHO)-led efforts to tackle the outbreak of the Sudan virus disease (SVD) as part of the UN Uganda Emergency Appeal. This will be used to support surveillance, infection prevention and control, and risk communication for communities. This collaboration will help to strengthen the government national response capacity and ensure a timely end to the outbreak. 

Minister Richmond said, “Ireland commends WHO and the Government of Uganda for the pro-active measures in addressing this Ebola outbreak. We are committed to supporting efforts to manage this emergency ensuring it is controlled, contained and ultimately defeated.”

Ambassador Kevin Colgan added that, “The WHO is also working on a ground-breaking clinical efficacy trial for a potential vaccine against the virus and other therapeutics. Ireland’s contribution will support these vital initiatives. Ireland remains a key partner to WHO in their efforts to combat disease and provide access to healthcare in some of the world’s most challenging environments.”

Uganda is currently facing a multi-district outbreak of the Sudan virus disease, with sporadic cases emerging in urban areas, with 12 confirmed cases recorded, 10 recoveries, two confirmed deaths, and multiple contacts under monitoring across six districts.

  WHO is working closely with partners to support the Government of Uganda, through Ministry of Health to contain the outbreak.
Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative to Uganda, said “WHO appreciates the trust from the embassy of Ireland in WHO by providing a significant flexible contribution to fight the current Ebola outbreak in Uganda. We commit to efficiently utilize the funds to support the most urgent needs of the response.”
              
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Ireland is currently the third largest donor to the WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies, that facilitates rapid action to contain new disease outbreaks or provide urgent care in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The Fund provided resources to 28 different health emergencies in 2024 and five new crises so far in 2025 year including trauma-care following escalated hostilities in Yemen, the containment of Marburg virus disease in Tanzania, and a cholera response in Angola. Ireland provides core funding to support the WHO’s general programme of work, the goal of which is to save approximately 10 million lives a year through a combination of health provision, health promotion, and health protection measures globally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations’ specialist agency for global health. In 2024, Ireland announced a pledge of €30 million in financing for the WHO for the 2025-2028 period. That commitment includes contributions from the Department of Health, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Lukwiya Opiyo paul.opiyolukwiya [at] dfa.ie (paul[dot]opiyolukwiya[at]dfa[dot]ie) 0773490036