South Sudan and Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in preventing, detecting and responding to public health emergencies along their shared border.
The agreement was signed on September 7, 2026, in Juba and facilitated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The MoU establishes a joint framework for responding to infectious disease threats, including Bundibugyo Virus Disease, viral haemorrhagic fevers, cholera and other cross-border health emergencies.
Under the agreement, the two countries will strengthen disease surveillance, early warning systems, information sharing and outbreak notification. They will also coordinate screening at points of entry, contact tracing, laboratory preparedness, vaccination efforts, infection prevention and control, and the deployment of health personnel and essential supplies during emergencies.
South Sudan’s Health Minister, Luke Thompson Thoan Teny, said the agreement would strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries through seamless information sharing, joint preparedness and coordinated responses to health threats.
Uganda’s Health Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, stressed the importance of translating the agreement into measurable action. The two countries are also expected to undertake skills exchanges, mentorship programmes and joint simulation exercises to strengthen the capacity of health workers and emergency response teams.
The agreement comes as the region continues to face infectious disease threats, including the ongoing Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Sudan has not reported a confirmed case of the disease, but health authorities have identified risks associated with population movement and porous borders.
The MoU will remain in force for an initial three years, providing a sustained framework for joint preparedness, surveillance and coordinated responses to health emergencies.
The agreement highlights the growing importance of cross-border cooperation in strengthening health security across East Africa, where disease outbreaks can quickly spread across national boundaries.
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