Uganda Enforces Strict Ebola Border Screening Amid DRC Outbreak

Uganda has stepped up its public health measures following a new Ebola outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Health ministry permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine has ordered stricter screening at all border crossings and demanded the strict enforcement of standard operating procedures in border communities and public spaces.

Speaking at a crucial stakeholders’ meeting in Mpondwe, Kasese district, Dr Atwine directed sharp criticism toward immigration officers at the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha border. She accused some personnel of allowing Congolese nationals to enter Uganda without conducting proper health checks, issuing a stern warning that any officials facilitating unauthorized entries would face immediate arrest and dismissal.

While Uganda currently has no confirmed Ebola cases, authorities remain on high alert. Concerns have been amplified by reports that recent Ebola patients in Kenya and Nigeria previously traveled through Uganda, having passed through Entebbe International Airport on October 3. Investigators are currently reviewing whether exposure could have occurred during transit.

Local leaders and health officials have rallied behind the enhanced response. Dr Rude Bwambale, chairperson of parliament’s health committee, praised the proactive measures and noted that the government is balancing public safety with the needs of cross-border traders. He also highlighted that Ugandan medical teams are providing assistance to Congolese nationals at a designated center across the border.

Kasese LC V chairperson Eliphazi Bukombi Muhindi expressed confidence in the nation’s response capabilities, drawing on past experiences managing epidemics like COVID-19 and previous Ebola outbreaks. The Ministry of Health continues to coordinate closely with leaders from eleven border districts and a visiting delegation from the DRC to maintain robust surveillance.

Read more details on this development at The Observer.