Parliament Bars Public from 2026 State of the Nation Address Amid Ebola Outbreak

By Skika Reporter

Parliament has banned public and guest attendance at the 2026 State of the Nation Address as Uganda intensifies measures to contain a fresh Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain.

In a statement issued on May 22, 2026, the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, announced that the annual address will be held under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following heightened public health concerns.

The decision comes days after the World Health Organization declared the current Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Health authorities have already confirmed imported cases in Kampala following cross-border transmission from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Under the new restrictions, the State of the Nation Address scheduled for June 4, 2026, at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds will have significantly reduced physical attendance.

Only Members of the 12th Parliament and a limited number of essential parliamentary staff will be allowed to attend in person.

Parliament further directed that all invited dignitaries, diplomats, and guests should refrain from attending physically, noting that arrangements have been made to allow virtual participation.

The move follows the government’s recent decision to indefinitely postpone the annual Martyrs’ Day celebrations at Namugongo, an event that usually attracts millions of pilgrims from across the world.

Health officials are currently expanding contact tracing operations and strengthening containment efforts in affected areas as fears grow over further spread of the virus.

The scaling down of one of Uganda’s most significant national events highlights the seriousness of the Ebola threat currently facing the country.