Uganda officially declared Ebola free : Uganda has been declared free of the Ebola Sudan virus following a complete break in all transmission chains. The country now moves into a 90-day surveillance period to ensure there are no remnant traces of the infection.
Uganda on Wednesday 11th January declared an end to an Ebola virus outbreak that emerged almost four months ago and claimed the lives of 55 people.
“We have successfully controlled the Ebola outbreak in Uganda,” Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said at a ceremony in the central district of Mubende, where the disease was first detected in September. The move was confirmed in a statement issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), whose chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the country’s “robust and comprehensive response” to the widely-feared haemorrhagic fever.
Doctor Aceng who is Uganda’ Minister of Health, said January 11 marked 113 days since the start of the epidemic, which also spread to the capital Kampala. Under the WHO’s criteria, an outbreak of the disease officially ends when there are no new cases for 42 consecutive days – twice the virus’s incubation period.
“Uganda put a swift end to the Ebola outbreak by ramping up key control measures such as surveillance, contact tracing and infection, prevention and control,” the WHO statement quoted the minister as saying.
So, you can now travel to Uganda with no fear of the Ebola virus. Uganda is a destination ripe with adventure from gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park, watching Golden Monkeys jump from branch to branch in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; to viewing stunning cascades at Sipi Falls or Murchison Falls. Travelling to Uganda is a great way to experience a range of safaris in Uganda, from primate trekking; chimpanzee tracking; to birdwatching endemic species. Here are some of the best places to safari in Uganda:
Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi forest is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley, the 25,000+ year old rainforest has over 400 known species of flora. However, most visitors come for a chance to see around half of the world’s population of the endangered Silverback Mountain Gorillas. There are around 500 gorillas that are known to roam the forest. If you thought the gorilla wildlife was stunning, then you would be even more surprised to come across some of the other 120 mammals at Bwindi Forest National Park: baboons, chimpanzees, elephants or antelopes.
Sipi Falls
Sipi falls are located in Eastern Uganda on the border of Kenya, Sipi Falls is a romantic destination that features three distinct waterfalls and is named after the red “sep” flower that grows on the river banks. Situated at the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, Sipi Falls is a popular spot for hikers on their way to scaling Mount Elgon. The three falls are consecutively 328 feet; 278 feet; and 246 feet tall.
Murchison Falls National Park
At the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison Falls National Park lies in a park bisected by the Victoria Nile. This is also Uganda’s oldest conservation area- since 1926- and is a refuge for 76 species of mammals like giraffes, buffaloes, as well as Nile crocodiles and 451 birds. The thundering cascade of water reaches 148 feet tall and then flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert.
Kibale Forest National Park
Our closest known relative, the chimpanzee signified in Kibale Forest National Park. The diversity of primates in Kibale National Park is the highest in Africa. Kibale’s 1450 chimpanzee indicate Uganda’s biggest population of this threatened primate. You can also spot the rare I’Hoest’s monkey; endangered red colobus monkey, bush baby, and potto. You may stumble upon elusive mammals like buffalo, leopard, bush pig elephant, and duiker. Birdwatcher? The park is a home to 325 bird species from the dusky crimsonwing to the blue-headed sunbird, Uganda officially declared Ebola free
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Part of the larger Virunga Conservation area that spreads over the three countries, Mgahinga National Parkis home to the endangered Silverback mountain gorillas. The park contains n 9 extinct and active volcanoes that you trek to reach the gorillas. In the Mgahinga National Park, you can also track the golden monkeys which you can spot through their bright orange-gold body, cheeks and tail, contrasting with its black limbs.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo, along with 13 other lakes, is a part of a wetland system linked by a swamp. The smallest of Uganda’s national parks, Lake Mburo National Park has ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks, which date back over 500 million years. A safari here will yield plentiful birdwatching opportunities (over 350 different types of birds), as well as large game like zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
There are only 2 populations in the world where you can find lions that climb trees. One is in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the only other place in the world where you can find tree climbing lions is in Lake Mayara in Tazania. You can view these special lions during a safari in Queen Elizabeth national park. You can also track Chimpanzees who roam in troops of 30-80 in Kyambura Gorge, as well as spot hippos, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, and the Uganda-kob.