Uganda Closes DRC Border as Ebola Fears Escalate
The Government of Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following heightened fears over the continued escalation of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in eastern DRC and increasing risks associated with cross-border movement.
The emergency directive, announced Wednesday by the Ministry of Health, takes immediate effect and is part of intensified containment measures aimed at preventing further spread of the deadly Bundibugyo strain of Ebola already detected in Uganda.
Uganda has not registered any new confirmed Ebola case since Monday, May 25, 2026. However, authorities say the number of contacts linked to confirmed cases has risen, with most of them being health workers.
Uganda currently has seven confirmed Ebola cases and one death.
The resolutions were agreed upon during a National Task Force on Ebola Response meeting chaired by Vice President Jessica Alupo.
Under the new measures, only authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and essential security personnel will be allowed to cross between Uganda and the DRC under strict health screening and continuous monitoring protocols.
Any person entering Uganda from the DRC will undergo mandatory 21-day self-isolation under Ministry of Health supervision.
Schools in border districts will remain open but must strictly enforce Ministry of Health SOPs, monitor temperatures of learners returning from the DRC, and isolate any student showing symptoms pending medical assessment.
RDCs and RCCs have also been directed to strictly enforce all Ebola prevention and control guidelines.
Government further ordered all media houses to dedicate at least 30 minutes of daily prime-time programming to Ebola awareness and public sensitization.
“We don’t want to get to a point where Ebola disrupts the economy and lives,” Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine said.
“We are asking media houses to dedicate time to educate people. We cannot be the monopoly of information provision. This affects all of us,” she added.
Dr. Atwine said the Ministry continues to roll out multilingual awareness campaigns, educational materials and nationwide sensitization efforts.
Authorities also urged bars, hotels and entertainment venues to strengthen safety measures to avoid exposing people to possible infections.
Meanwhile, Uganda Airlines suspended all flights between Entebbe and Kinshasa indefinitely following the latest containment measures and restrictions on cross-border public transport and market activities.
The outbreak is also beginning to trigger international travel restrictions against Uganda.
Canada imposed a 90-day travel ban on travelers arriving from or transiting through Uganda, while the Bahamas closed its borders to non-citizens coming directly or indirectly from Uganda following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain as a public health emergency.
Uganda has nevertheless reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the DRC through strengthened surveillance, information sharing and coordinated response efforts aimed at controlling the spread of Ebola across the shared border.
Health officials continue to urge the public to remain calm, vigilant and immediately report suspected Ebola symptoms to the nearest health facility or through the Ministry’s toll-free emergency line.
