Billings Humanitarian Group Postpones Uganda Trip Due to Ebola Outbreak

AIDSpirit, a humanitarian group based in Billings, Montana, has postponed its annual trip to Uganda due to concerns over travel safety following an Ebola outbreak in the region.

A team of 11 volunteers was scheduled to depart on May 21, 2026. However, on May 18, 2026, three days before the planned departure, the group made a unanimous decision to delay the trip.

Tom Jacques, the director of AIDSpirit, stated that the decision was prompted by a report from the CDC. The report indicated that an American missionary working in the Democratic Republic of Congo had tested positive for Ebola, and the virus has since spread into Uganda.

Jacques noted that there was a threat the situation could escalate, which could lead to a government lockdown in Uganda. He expressed concern that such a lockdown would put the volunteers in real peril and raised questions regarding whether the team would be able to return to the United States.

Long-term Support for Kayunga District

AIDSpirit has provided support to an orphanage in Uganda’s Kayunga district for nearly three decades. Tom Jacques and his wife, Jean Jacques, who serves as the director of children’s programs for the organization, have traveled to Uganda 17 times since 2009.

The annual visits are described as deeply personal, focusing on maintaining relationships with the children, performing necessary repairs, and working on the farm.

In preparation for the postponed May 2026 trip, the group had already packed essential supplies to bring to the orphanage, including:

Jean Jacques emphasized the importance of providing education to the children they serve, noting that education is the primary means of providing opportunities for girls in the region.

If a girl doesn’t have an education, she has no chance, absolutely none, except to go back to a village and get pregnant

Jean Jacques