Kampala, Uganda — The Ugandan Ministry of Health officially declared the country free from Ebola out break that broke out in the country in July.

According to the press statement by the Ministry, the announcement follows completion of 42 days of the post Ebola surveillance countdown period.

"As you may recall, the Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of Ebola in Kibaale district on July 28th after receiving confirmatory results from the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) that the strange disease that had killed 14 people in the district was Ebola Hemorrhagic fever, Sudan strain," Health Minister Christine Ondoa

She revealed that the Post Ebola Surveillance countdown period is a prerequisite of the World Health Organization (WHO) which requires any affected country to monitor the Ebola situation for a period of 42 days after the last discharged patient case before finally declaring that the outbreak is over. The last patient in Kibaale was allowed to go home on 24th August.

The outbreak, which was reported to have occurred in Luwero district (47 miles north of Kampala city), had remained a mystery until a 12-year-old girl from Luwero district died at a Military Hospital on May 12.

However the out break of Ebola has left Ugandan Muslims barred from taking part in this year's pilgrimage following delays in clearing the group over Ebola fears.

This is the second time in 12 years Ugandan pilgrims are barred from travelling to Saudi Arabia over Ebola, the first being in 2001 when the deadly disease struck Gulu District.

A total of 900 pilgrims had registered for pilgrimage this year.