We are contacting everyone who has supported us in the past or have some knowledge of the work of Quicken Trust in the Ugandan village of Kabubbu.
We have received some very serious news. On 22nd May 2026, the Kabubbu Health Centre received a patient who, just over a week later, was confirmed to be suffering from Ebola virus.As of 8th June, 18 other Ebola cases have already been confirmed in Uganda, and two people have already died. As you can imagine, the community is extremely frightened.
What does this mean?
Ebola is a very dangerous disease that is hard to identify and is often fatal. It spreads between people through contact with bodily fluids (such as blood, sweat, faeces and vomit), including from surfaces that have these infected fluids on them. You can learn more about Ebola through the World Health Organisation website.
Six staff members at the Kabubbu Health Centre and a taxi driver who had already been exposed to this infected patient have been evacuated to Kampala by the Ministry of Health for 21 days of quarantine. This means the remaining staff are currently working extra hours to try and fill the gap left by their colleagues, with the additional burden of maintaining infection prevention measures to prevent any further spread.
What can we do?
Firstly, we can pray that Kabubbu is kept safe, and for the community leaders as they make decisions in this urgent situation.
Next, the best chance of stopping Ebola from becoming an epidemic is by preventing it passing from person to person. That means protecting the medical staff so that any infection can be contained within the Health Centre. Susan Babirye (the KDP Deputy Director) has told us that the first line of defence is to buy supplies of masks, gloves, protective aprons and boots, and disinfectant, and to provide screening for possible infected patients.
The community will also need education in how to spot symptoms early, so they can come in for treatment. The earlier a case is identified, the higher the chance of survival. or all Health Centre and community required protection the expected initial total cost is £15,000.00
This is an immediate need that we can help with. If you are able to give even a small amount to help buy these protective items, please do so using this link: Quicken Trust – Donate to Quicken Trust
Our donation page can also be accessed by visiting www.QuickenTrust.com
Should the appeal total be exceeded we will look to prioritise the greatest needs, starting with the Health Centre.
We will keep you updated as the situation develops.
If you would like to read the full email we received from Deputy Director Susan Babirye, you can do so below:
“Uganda has of today 2nd June 2026, confirmed 15 Ebola cases now in Uganda and one reported death. This is a critical phase of the outbreak. The ongoing Ebola Virus outbreak has significantly increased the occupational risk faced by healthcare workers at Kabubbu Health Centre IV.
On 22nd May 2026, our health centre received a patient with high fever, temp.38 degrees and general body weakness. He was managed briefly at the facility and referred for further investigations. After eight days, we were contacted by the Ministry of health that this patient tested positive for Ebola virus.
Following this exposure to a confirmed Ebola case, seven staff members have been evacuated by ministry of Health to Kampala and placed under mandatory quarantine for 21 days. This has resulted in critical staffing shortages and increased workload for the remaining workforce. The staff who continue to provide services are required to work extended hours, cover additional shifts, participate in emergency preparedness activities, maintain strict Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, and respond to heightened community concerns related to the outbreak.
These responsibilities are being undertaken in an environment of increased psychological stress and potential exposure to a highly infectious disease. Kabubbu HC IV has heightened its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) preparedness in line with national Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), case definitions, and surveillance guidelines.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), caused by the Ebola Virus , requires strict adherence to Infection Prevention and Control measures at both facility and community levels to prevent transmission.
Kabubbu HC IV has a functional Infection Prevention and Control(IPC) system with strong governance structures already in place. However, in light of the heightened Ebola risk as communicated by the Ministry of Health Uganda, there is an urgent need to scale up Infection Prevention and Control(IPC) infrastructure, supplies, screening capacity, and community engagement.
Timely implementation of the above recommendations will significantly strengthen the facility’s preparedness and protect both health workers and the community from potential Ebola transmission.”
