Kagadi Enhances Lake Albert Border Security to Block Ebola Threat from DRC

Health officials and security agencies in Kagadi District have intensified movement restrictions across Lake Albert to plug porous border points and prevent a potential spread of Ebola from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although the Ministry of Health maintains that Uganda is currently free of the virus, officials caution that continuous cross-border commerce presents a significant public health risk.

Kagadi borders the DRC across the lake through Ndaiga Sub-county, where daily movements by fishermen and traders persist. District health personnel warn that unmonitored crossings could easily lead to an outbreak if travelers interact with infected individuals. Dr Samuel Onyaiti, the Kagadi District Health Officer, noted that health teams have reinforced standard operating procedures in coordination with security personnel to curb unauthorized trips.

To counter the threat, a joint task force comprising health, immigration, infantry, marine, and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel has been deployed. Teams stationed at lakeside entry points have scaled up compulsory handwashing, body temperature screenings, and isolation protocols for any rule-breakers or symptomatic arrivals. Furthermore, the UPDF Marine 155 Battalion is conducting round-the-clock speedboat patrols to monitor activity and prevent illegal entries.

While cargo transport toward the Congolese border remains permitted under strict crew limits, the heightened security has reshaped local daily operations and the fishing economy. Local leaders note that unauthorized operators have been cleared, leaving only licensed boats to navigate the waters, which has temporarily impacted fish supplies and prices in the area.

Read more about this story at the Daily Monitor.