In 2000, Ebola broke out in Gulu District. I was in Primary Five at the time, living in Masindi, a district that borders Gulu. I vividly remember that Masindi had not yet recorded a single case of Ebola when the then district chairperson, the late John Nyakoojo Majara, announced that some Ebola patients would be transferred from St Mary’s Hospital Lacor to Masindi Regional Referral Hospital. Demonstrations erupted across the district as residents opposed the proposal. It was not long before Ebola patients were ferried to Masindi, likely as a measure to decongest Lacor hospital. Although I was still young, I could sense the tension, panic, and uncertainty that hung heavily in the air. In Gulu, the situation was far worse. The district had become the epicentre of the outbreak. Three student nurses contracted a mysterious disease, which was later confirmed to be Ebola.
The trio later succumbed to the disease. Then fear spread rapidly through the hospital. Health workers were overwhelmed, some retreating in fear while others fled for safety. It was at this critical moment that Dr Matthew Lukwiya, the then medical superintendent of Lacor hospital, was called back from Kampala, where he was pursuing further studies. Like an army caught off guard by a sudden ambush, the hospital was in disarray when he arrived. Staff morale had collapsed, and many medics did not know how to confront the deadly virus before them. One of Dr Lukwiya’s greatest hurdles was restoring confidence among a frightened workforce. He reminded his colleagues of their calling: to save lives, even in the face of grave danger. Through leadership and courage, he rebuilt a team that was prepared to confront Ebola head-on.
The Ebola outbreak lasted from August 2000 to January 2001 and resulted in 425 confirmed and probable cases, claiming the lives of 224 people, including 17 health workers, among whom was Dr Lukwiya, 42. On one fateful day, Dr Lukwiya was called to attend to an emergency involving a health worker named Simon Ajok, who was critically ill in the isolation ward. Ajok was vomiting blood and desperately attempting to leave the ward. Responding immediately, Dr Lukwiya rushed in wearing protective gear. It was only after getting close to the patient that he realised he had forgotten to secure his protective goggles, leaving him vulnerable to exposure. In the days that followed, he developed a high fever that was initially suspected to be malaria, but subsequent tests confirmed that he had contracted Ebola.
It is widely believed that he got infected while responding to the emergency involving Ajok, who died shortly after. On December 5, 2000, Dr Lukwiya died. His death was a devastating blow to Gulu and to Uganda’s medical fraternity, but it was not the end of the fight. Inspired by health workers who continued serving despite enormous risks, Uganda persevered until the country was declared Ebola-free in January 2001. Since then, Uganda has faced several other Ebola outbreaks, but the lessons learned from the tragedy of 2000 have strengthened the country’s response capacity. Despite the challenges that continue to confront the healthcare system, the Health ministry has repeatedly demonstrated resilience in detecting, containing, and suppressing outbreaks before they spread widely through communities.
Even then, we should not be tempted to depend on martyrs to tackle epidemics. The biggest Ebola deaths Uganda has recorded were 224 in 2000. While in DR Congo, it was 2,299 deaths between 2018 and 2020; 3,596 deaths in Sierra Leone in 2014 and 2016. More than two decades later, Dr Lukwiya remains a symbol of selfless service. When fear drove many to retreat, he stepped forward. His story is not merely one of death during an epidemic; it is a story of extraordinary courage, unwavering faith, and a commitment to humanity that continues to inspire Uganda and the world. As we remember Dr Lukwiya, we also honour the many medical practitioners, some of whom have lost their lives in the fight against infectious diseases.