Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, delivered a compelling speech at the 5th International Scientific and Practical Conference on “Global Biosecurity Challenges: Problems and Solutions” in Sochi, Russia, on June 10, 2025.
During her address, she lauded the critical role of Russian specialists in helping Uganda contain a recent Ebola outbreak, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in tackling global health threats.
Dr. Atwine highlighted Uganda’s successful response to an Ebola outbreak declared on January 30, 2025, following the death of a 32-year-old nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.
The outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, resulted in 14 cases—12 confirmed and two probable—with four fatalities. The last confirmed patient was discharged on March 14, marking the end of the outbreak.
Atwine credited the swift containment to “joint efforts with our Russian partners, rapid response measures, and targeted interventions.”
Russian support included epidemiological investigations and the deployment of a mobile laboratory in 2024, provided by Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s public health agency.
This high-tech facility enabled rapid diagnosis of severe infectious diseases, significantly bolstering Uganda’s response capabilities.
“The scale and intensity of infectious disease outbreaks are increasing globally,” Atwine warned, emphasizing the growing risks posed by emerging and re-emerging pathogens.
She called for strengthened multilateral cooperation to address these challenges.
The Sochi conference, hosted by Rospotrebnadzor with support from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, served as a platform for global experts to discuss biosecurity threats and solutions.
Atwine’s remarks resonated with the conference’s focus on fostering international partnerships to counter biological risks, including natural and deliberate threats.
The event, which has been held periodically since 2017, drew participants from dozens of countries, reinforcing the need for collective action to ensure global biosecurity.
On the sidelines, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova held bilateral talks with Burundi’s Minister of Health, Liduine Baradahana, reviewing ongoing collaborations in infectious disease management.
Notably, two of Burundi’s three Biosafety Level 3 laboratories, designed to study hazardous pathogens, were established with Russian assistance, further highlighting Russia’s growing role in African health security.
Dr. Atwine’s speech underscored the critical role of global solidarity in combating infectious diseases. As Uganda continues to strengthen its biosecurity framework, its partnership with Russia serves as a model for effective international cooperation in public health.