The Ugandan government has implemented strict new measures to safeguard the country against the potential entry of the Ebola virus, following regional concerns regarding the ongoing outbreak in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Health authorities announced on Sunday that all Ugandan citizens returning from the DRC will now be required to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine. These individuals must cover the costs associated with their isolation period themselves.
In addition to the quarantine requirement, the ministry has introduced a ban on most travellers from the DRC using Uganda as a transit route. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi confirmed to the BBC’s Newsday programme that exceptions will be made only for essential travellers. Even in those instances, arrivals will be subjected to rigorous public health monitoring and intense screening procedures to ensure the safety of the local population.
The decision to tighten border protocols follows reports of two individuals testing positive for the Ebola virus in Kenya and Nigeria after recently transiting through Uganda. While Ugandan officials maintain that there have been no confirmed cases of the virus within their borders since the World Health Organization declared the country free of the disease in August, the recent detections in neighbouring nations have heightened regional alert levels. Health ministry permanent secretary Diana Atwine noted that CCTV footage from Entebbe International Airport showed no direct physical interaction between the two infected individuals who passed through the facility on the same day.
The outbreak in the DR Congo has been described as the country's deadliest to date, with more than 4,800 deaths reported since May. The strain identified in the current outbreak is the Bundibugyo species, a relatively rare form of the virus for which there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine, though medical trials are ongoing. Minister Baryomunsi emphasised that the geographic proximity and the deep socio-economic ties—including trade and family connections—between Uganda and the DRC necessitate an elevated level of vigilance.
Ugandan authorities have significantly intensified screening operations at Entebbe International Airport as well as at all designated land border crossings. These efforts are further supported by additional health checks at various road checkpoints. The ministry also reported that 60 individuals who had been under observation following contact with the Kenyan patient have been released after showing no signs of the disease. Efforts are also ongoing between Ugandan and Nigerian officials to determine the exact travel history and potential exposure routes of the patient currently in Nigeria.
As regional stakeholders work to establish the movements of the infected travellers, Uganda remains focused on containment. Officials have stressed that despite the heightened risk, the health infrastructure remains on high alert. The government continues to advocate for public cooperation with the new travel guidelines, maintaining that the current restrictions are essential to prevent the re-emergence of the virus within Ugandan territory. The situation remains fluid as health officials monitor the ongoing transmission trends across the border.
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