Kampala, Uganda: The Ugandan government has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following an escalation in the Ebola outbreak across the neighbouring country, authorities announced on Wednesday.
The directive was issued after an emergency meeting of the National Task Force on Ebola Response, chaired by Vice President Jessica Alupo, as the country intensifies measures to prevent further spread of the deadly virus into Uganda.
According to the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine, Uganda has not recorded any new confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case since Monday, May 25, 2026. However, the number of contacts linked to confirmed cases has increased significantly, with most of them being health workers.
She confirmed that Uganda currently has seven confirmed Ebola cases and one death, and that the border closure takes immediate effect due to increased cross-border movements and the growing risk posed by the outbreak in eastern DRC.
“Uganda is temporarily closing the border with the DRC with immediate effect. The only Exceptions are for authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and security under strict health screening and monitoring protocols,” Atwine said while addressing journalists in Kampala on Wednesday.
Under the new directives, only authorised Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and essential security personnel will be allowed to move between Uganda and the DRC under strict health surveillance protocols.
She further announced that all persons returning from the DRC into Uganda will now undergo mandatory 21-day self-isolation under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and district surveillance teams.
“All authorized entrants shall be subjected to strict health screening, completion of locator forms, documentation, and continuous monitoring at all ports of entry in accordance with Ministry of Health surveillance protocols.”
The government also directed schools in border districts to remain open but strictly enforce all Ebola Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and school administrators have been instructed to identify learners recently returning from the DRC and monitor their temperatures daily for 21 days.
“School authorities are directed to identify all students who have recently returned from DRC and ensure that their temperature is monitored and recorded daily for twenty-one (21) days. Districts along the Uganda-DRC border shall designate at least one health facility to accommodate and monitor any learner who develops symptoms such as fever during the observation period, pending further assessment,” she noted.
Additionally, Atwine said districts bordering the DRC have been ordered to designate at least one health facility to isolate and monitor any learner who develops symptoms such as fever during the observation period.
“All RDCs/RCCs are instructed to strictly ensure implementation and enforcement of all Ebola prevention and control guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and NTF,” she said.
Meanwhile, all media houses across the country have been directed to dedicate at least 30 minutes of daily prime-time programming to Ebola sensitization, prevention and public awareness campaigns.
The latest measures come amid growing fears over the spread of Ebola across the Great Lakes region, especially due to frequent population movements between Uganda and eastern DRC.
Health authorities have repeatedly urged the public to avoid unnecessary physical contact, maintain hygiene, and report suspected Ebola symptoms immediately.
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