Authorities in Mubende District have dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the district has been placed under lockdown following the discovery of three suspected Ebola cases.
The District Health Officer said preliminary results from samples taken from the suspected patients have turned out negative for Ebola, although final results are still being awaited.
Following a statement from Mubende Regional Referral Hospital confirming three suspected Ebola cases, some social media users began spreading claims that President Museveni had imposed a lockdown on the district, triggering panic among residents.
The district’s emergency response committee, the District Task Force, led by RDC Fred Kyamuzigita Nayebare, District Health Officer Bob Ssekyanzi and other leaders, convened an urgent meeting to address the situation.
“We want to assure the public that Mubende district has not been placed under lockdown. The information circulating on social media is false and misleading,” RDC Kyamuzigita said.
He explained that the videos being circulated online are old clips recorded in 2022 during the Ebola outbreak that led to restrictions in Mubende and Kassanda districts.
“Some individuals are re-sharing old videos from the 2022 Ebola outbreak, creating unnecessary panic among Ugandans. We ask the public to ignore such misinformation,” he added.
According to the leaders, the false reports have caused fear among many residents, with officials receiving numerous calls from concerned members of the public.
District Health Officer Bob Ssekyanzi confirmed that initial laboratory results showed no signs of Ebola among the suspected patients.
“The preliminary results we have received indicate that the three suspected patients tested negative for Ebola, although we are still waiting for the final results from the Ministry of Health,” Ssekyanzi said.
However, he urged residents to remain vigilant and continue observing Ebola prevention measures, noting that the disease remains a regional threat.
“We call upon the people of Mubende to continue practising good hygiene, washing hands regularly and reporting any suspected symptoms to health authorities immediately,” he said.
In 2022, Mubende and Kassanda districts were heavily affected by an Ebola outbreak that led to a two-month lockdown, during which at least 54 people died.