The infected prisoner has been isolated and is currently under treatment, according to a press release from the Prisons Service sent to the media, which recalled that Uganda has so far reported 41 cases of Mpox, a disease that prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declared public health emergency.

In addition to fears about the disease, which was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in early 2024, the WHO’s concerns are based on the speed with which Mpox has spread to neighboring nations, including Uganda.

Unfortunately, the prisoner could not benefit from bail, as he was being held for murder. Doctors suspect that the inmate contracted the disease before entering prison, so he could have infected others.

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