Uganda closes border with DRC over Ebola

Uganda has announced the immediate closure of its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the escalation of the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC.

The resolutions were agreed upon by the National Task Force on Ebola Response, chaired by Vice President Designate Jessica Alupo, during a meeting held on May 27, 2026.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwiine, said that under the new directives, only authorised Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and essential security personnel will be allowed to cross between Uganda and the DRC.

She said all permitted movements will be subjected to strict health screening and monitoring protocols. The Immigration Authority has been directed to enforce the restrictions immediately and ensure that all authorised entrants complete locator forms, undergo documentation, and remain under continuous monitoring at all official points of entry in line with Ministry of Health surveillance guidelines.

Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, Atwine said Uganda has not registered any new confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case since Monday, May 25, 2026. However, she noted that the number of contacts linked to the confirmed cases has increased, with the majority being health workers who were exposed while handling patients. 

Atwine said the cumulative number of confirmed cases currently stands at seven, including one death, and assured the public that surveillance, contact tracing, and infection prevention measures have been intensified across affected areas. 

These include the mandatory self-isolation for all persons returning from the DRC to Uganda.

According to the directive, returnees will undergo a 21-day self-isolation period supervised by the Ministry of Health and district surveillance teams. Despite the growing concerns, schools in border districts will remain open. However, the government has instructed all schools to strictly observe Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Ebola prevention and control.

School authorities have been further directed to identify all learners who recently returned from the DRC and monitor and record their temperatures daily for 21 days. Border districts have also been instructed to designate at least one health facility to isolate and monitor any learner who develops Ebola-like symptoms, such as fever, during the observation period pending further medical assessment.

Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and Resident City Commissioners (RCCs) have been tasked with ensuring full enforcement of all Ebola prevention and control guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Task Force.

In an additional measure aimed at strengthening public awareness, all media houses across the country have been ordered to dedicate at least 30 minutes of prime-time programming daily to Ebola sensitisation campaigns focusing on prevention, detection, and reporting.

The government says the measures are intended to prevent a possible spillover of the Ebola outbreak into Uganda amid increased public health concerns along the porous Uganda-DRC border.

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المصدر: The Observer (Uganda)