By Mike Rwothomio
ARUA
President Yoweri Museveni has provided a government helicopter to airlift a critically injured Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) staff member from Arua to Kampala for specialised medical care, following a security incident that targeted humanitarian response teams in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Uganda Red Cross Society confirmed that its personnel and response vehicles came under attack while undertaking humanitarian duties in Aru, Ituri Province, in support of the Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease response.
One URCS response vehicle was destroyed and two others were vandalised.
The safety of the staff was prioritised, and arrangements were made for their evacuation.
According to a statement issued by the Uganda Red Cross Society, the affected personnel were safely returned to Uganda on 18 August 2026 and are currently in Arua, where they are receiving psychosocial support, medical attention and welfare assistance.
One staff member requires further specialised medical management.
The society said His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda provided the government helicopter to facilitate the emergency evacuation of the critically injured staff member from Arua to Kampala.
The remaining affected personnel will continue to receive support in Arua before proceeding to Kampala to reunite with their families.
URCS expressed appreciation to the Government of Uganda, through the President and the Ministry of Health, for their support and cooperation in securing the safe evacuation and continued care of the personnel.
The Society reiterated that the safety, security and wellbeing of its staff and volunteers remain its highest priority. It is taking all necessary steps to support the affected personnel and their families while working with relevant authorities and humanitarian partners to assess the operating environment and strengthen safeguards for personnel deployed in high-risk settings.
URCS emphasised that the incident does not diminish its humanitarian commitment.
As an auxiliary to the Government of Uganda, the organisation remains steadfast in supporting emergency preparedness and response, disease prevention and control, community engagement, health and first aid services, ambulance operations, psychosocial support and other life-saving interventions, in coordination with the government and Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners.
The Society recognised the courage, professionalism and dedication of humanitarian personnel who serve in challenging environments and stressed that such personnel and assets must be respected and protected so that humanitarian action can continue safely and without interference.
According to local authorities, the disease has killed 2,325 people, surpassing the 2,299 deaths recorded in the DRC’s 2018-2020 outbreak, which was previously the country’s deadliest.
The outbreak, declared by national authorities on 15 May, became the country’s largest in terms of total confirmed cases in late July. There are currently 4,945 confirmed cases, the latest data shows.
A total of 730 patients remain in isolation or in the hospital and 1,040 people have recovered from the disease, and the fatality rate has risen to 46 per cent, according to Government data.
The current outbreak remains eclipsed only by West Africa’s 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, which saw 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths, according to WHO, but the Bundibugyo outbreak is taking lives at a much faster rate.
