Uganda’s disease outbreak preparedness has received a major boost following the handover of a truck-mounted mobile Biosafety Level-3 laboratory to the Ministry of Health. The laboratory, valued at US$500,000 (approximately Shs1.8 billion), was handed over by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 26 August 2026. It was procured with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB). WHO Country Representative Dr Kasonde Mwinga said the facility will enable advanced diagnostic services to be taken closer to communities, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas, helping health authorities detect outbreaks earlier and respond faster. Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine described the mobile lab as a critical addition because it can be transported and set up within a few hours wherever it is needed. “It gives us flexibility to set up wherever there is a problem. We can set up in real time and we are able to test without going through so many processes of setting up a lab,” Atwine said. She noted that the laboratory can also be deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo if required, as Uganda continues to support the neighbouring country’s Ebola response. The mobile laboratory is equipped to handle high-risk pathogens under strict containment conditions. Officials said previous outbreak experiences showed that delays in sample transportation and laboratory confirmation can slow down public health responses. The handover comes shortly after Uganda was declared Ebola-free following 42 days without a new confirmed case. King Musah Media will continue monitoring efforts to strengthen the country’s health security