In response to the Ebola outbreak declared in Uganda in September 2022, Luxembourg contributed targeted in‑kind support to reinforce treatment capacity and operational logistics in the country. Acting through the World Health Organization (WHO) and within the framework of the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), Luxembourg focused its intervention on two critical gaps in outbreak response: safe medical waste management and rapid deployment of essential supplies.
Luxembourg provided eight incinerators, a key asset for Ebola treatment operations. Proper disposal of contaminated medical waste is essential to prevent further transmission of the virus within treatment facilities and surrounding communities. The incinerators therefore directly support infection prevention and control measures in Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs), particularly at Mulago Hospital in Kampala as well as in treatment and isolation facilities in Masaka and Jinja.
In parallel, Luxembourg ensured the airlift of WHO medical supplies to Uganda, enabling the rapid delivery of critical equipment and materials required to operationalize these facilities. This logistics component played an essential role in accelerating the readiness of newly established treatment units, ensuring that healthcare workers had timely access to the tools needed to diagnose, isolate and treat patients safely.
Luxembourg’s contribution formed part of a broader European effort alongside Sweden and the United Kingdom, combining equipment, logistics and technical support to strengthen Uganda’s preparedness and response capacity at a crucial stage of the outbreak. Through its engagement in the IHP, Luxembourg demonstrated the added value of coordinated, multinational humanitarian action, where pooling resources and expertise allows for a faster and more effective response to health emergencies.
This intervention highlights Luxembourg’s commitment to supporting frontline response operations, with a focus on practical, high‑impact contributions. By combining logistical capabilities with essential infrastructure, Luxembourg helped ensure that Ebola treatment units could operate safely and efficiently, ultimately contributing to limiting the spread of the virus and improving patient care during the outbreak.
