KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease as authorities intensify measures to contain the outbreak linked to eastern Congo.
The decision was announced Wednesday during a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre by Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, who said the move takes immediate effect following heightened concerns over the escalating Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province in the DRC.
Dr. Atwine said Uganda has not registered any new confirmed Ebola cases since Monday, May 25, 2026. However, the number of identified contacts connected to confirmed cases has continued to rise, with many of them being health workers.
Uganda has so far recorded seven Ebola cases, including one death.
“The situation in the DRC and the continued cross border movement present a significant risk of further importation into Uganda,” Dr. Atwine said.
The resolutions were adopted during a meeting of the National Task Force on Ebola Response chaired by Vice President Jessica Alupo on May 27.
Under the new directives, only authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian workers, cargo transporters, food suppliers and security personnel will be allowed to cross between Uganda and the DRC. All authorized travelers will undergo strict health screening and monitoring at border points.
The Immigration Authority has also been directed to ensure all permitted entrants complete locator forms, present relevant documentation and remain under continuous surveillance in line with Ministry of Health protocols.
Government further ordered that any person entering Uganda from the DRC must undergo mandatory self isolation for 21 days under the supervision of district surveillance teams and health officials.
Schools in border districts will remain open but authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce all Ebola prevention standard operating procedures. School administrators must identify learners returning from the DRC and monitor and record their temperatures daily for 21 days.
District authorities along the Uganda DRC border have also been directed to designate at least one health facility to isolate and monitor any learner who develops Ebola related symptoms such as fever during the observation period.
Resident District Commissioners and Resident City Commissioners have been tasked with enforcing all Ebola prevention and control measures issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Task Force.
Government also directed media houses to dedicate at least 30 minutes of prime time programming daily to Ebola public awareness campaigns focused on prevention, early detection and reporting of suspected cases.
Health officials said surveillance and contact tracing efforts have been intensified, particularly among frontline health workers who remain at elevated risk of exposure.
The Ministry of Health urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, promptly report suspected symptoms and strictly follow all health guidelines.
The latest measures come amid growing regional concern over the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, with the World Health Organization warning of increased risk of cross border transmission in the Great Lakes region.
