NAIROBI, Kenya- Uganda has announced the immediate closure of its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as authorities intensify efforts to contain a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak that has already claimed hundreds of lives in the region.
Ugandan authorities said all persons returning from the DRC into Uganda will now be subjected to mandatory self-isolation for 21 days as part of emergency health measures aimed at preventing further transmission of the deadly virus.
The decision follows growing concern over the rapid spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in eastern DRC, which has overwhelmed local health systems and crossed into neighbouring Uganda.
Uganda’s Ebola task force, chaired by Vice President Jesca Alupo, announced the border closure after health officials confirmed several Ebola cases within Uganda linked to travellers and health workers exposed to infected patients from Congo.
Authorities warned that the high movement of people across the porous Uganda-DRC border significantly increases the risk of further infections.
“Any person returning from the DRC into Uganda shall undergo mandatory self-isolation for 21 days,” officials said as the country rolled out stricter screening and surveillance measures at border points and urban centres.
According to international health agencies, the outbreak in the DRC has already resulted in nearly 900 suspected infections and more than 220 deaths, sparking fears of a wider regional health crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the Ebola outbreaks in both DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning that the outbreak is spreading faster than containment efforts.
Uganda has since heightened emergency preparedness measures nationwide, including suspension of some transport links with Congo, activation of isolation centres, contact tracing, and mandatory health screening in schools, markets, and border towns.
The outbreak has also triggered global concern, with countries including Canada, Thailand, the United States and the Bahamas introducing travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, and enhanced Ebola screening measures for travellers arriving from affected countries.
