IAF C17 Globemaster delivers 43-tonne second tranche of Ebola aid to Uganda
Synopsis
India's second Ebola airlift to Africa in nine days signals a sharper humanitarian posture from New Delhi. A 43-tonne C17 Globemaster payload landing in Entebbe — protective gear, diagnostics, medicines — is more than aid optics; it positions India as a first-mover responder to the Bundibugyo strain spreading in the DRC, even as WHO's Public Health Emergency tag intensifies global pressure.
Key Takeaways
An IAF C17 Globemaster delivered India's second Ebola aid tranche at Entebbe International Airport , Uganda, on 2 June .
The consignment weighs 43 tonnes and includes protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines, and nutritional supplements.
Jaishankar confirmed the handover to the Africa CDC in a post on X.
The first tranche was airlifted on 24 May ; WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May .
The aid targets the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
An Indian Air Force (IAF) C17 Globemaster aircraft landed at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda on Tuesday, 2 June, delivering the second tranche of New Delhi's emergency medical assistance to help contain the worsening Ebola outbreak across Africa. The 43-tonne consignment, handed over to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), includes protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines, and nutritional supplements.
What the consignment contains
The shipment is aimed at shoring up the continent's frontline response to the Bundibugyo Ebola strain currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “An Indian Air Force special C17 Globemaster Aircraft delivered today the 2nd tranche of India's medical assistance at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda,” the High Commission of India in Kampala said in a post on X.
What Jaishankar said
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the dispatch on X earlier in the day. “India has dispatched the second tranche of medical assistance to Africa CDC, comprising protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines, and supplements. Confident that this 43 tons consignment will further strengthen public health preparedness and bolster Ebola response capacities across Africa,” he wrote.
Background to the outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing Ebola situation in the region a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May. India had dispatched the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits to the Africa CDC on 24 May, with Jaishankar at the time reiterating New Delhi's commitment to support Africa through the emerging public health emergency.
Diplomatic backdrop
On 29 May, India publicly signalled its readiness to continue assisting affected countries and the Africa CDC. Two days later, on 31 May, the Africa CDC formally welcomed New Delhi's emergency medical assistance and expressed gratitude for India's support during the crisis. The back-to-back airlifts position India as one of the earliest external responders to the latest Ebola flare-up.
What's next
With the Bundibugyo strain still active in the DRC and surveillance being ramped up across neighbouring states, further consignments are likely if the outbreak widens. The Africa CDC is expected to channel the supplies to the most affected health districts in the coming days.
Point of View
Logistics-heavy delivery. The C17 Globemaster, typically associated with strategic lift, doubles here as soft-power signalling at a moment when China and Western donors are also recalibrating Africa engagement. The real test, however, lies downstream: whether the 43-tonne payload actually reaches DRC's affected districts in time, given the well-documented last-mile bottlenecks Africa CDC has flagged in past outbreaks.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the IAF C17 Globemaster deliver to Uganda?
The IAF's C17 Globemaster delivered the second tranche of India's medical assistance to Africa CDC at Entebbe International Airport on 2 June. The 43-tonne consignment includes protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines, and nutritional supplements to support the Ebola response.
Why is India sending medical aid to Africa?
India is responding to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May. New Delhi has framed the assistance as part of its commitment to support Africa during the public health emergency.
When was the first tranche of India's Ebola aid sent?
India dispatched the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits to the Africa CDC on 24 May. EAM S. Jaishankar had announced the dispatch on X, reaffirming India's commitment to Africa's response efforts.
Who is receiving the consignment in Africa?
The aid has been handed over to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which will channel the supplies to affected health districts. On 31 May, the Africa CDC publicly welcomed and thanked India for the emergency assistance.
