The Government of Uganda has announced the temporary closure of its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a rise in Ebola cases in the neighboring country and growing concerns over cross-border transmission.
The decision was reached by the National Task Force on Ebola Response chaired by Uganda’s Vice President during a high-level meeting held on May 27, 2026. Authorities said the move is aimed at protecting the country from a possible outbreak linked to increased movement between the DRC and Uganda.
According to the resolutions issued by the task force, the border closure takes immediate effect. However, exceptions will be made for authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, as well as security personnel operating under strict health screening and monitoring procedures.
The Immigration Authority has also been directed to restrict movement between Uganda and the DRC to only authorized persons and essential services. All approved entrants will undergo mandatory health screening, documentation, completion of locator forms, and continuous monitoring at all official points of entry in line with Ministry of Health surveillance guidelines.
The government further announced that all persons returning from the DRC into Uganda will be required to undergo mandatory self-isolation for 21 days under the supervision of Ministry of Health officials and district surveillance teams.
Despite the heightened alert, schools in border districts will remain open. However, school authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce all Ebola prevention Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Ministry of Health. Schools are also required to identify learners who recently returned from the DRC and monitor and record their temperatures daily for 21 days.
Districts along the Uganda-DRC border have additionally been directed to designate at least one health facility to accommodate and monitor any learner who develops symptoms such as fever during the observation period pending further medical assessment.
Resident District Commissioners and Resident City Commissioners have been tasked with ensuring strict enforcement of all Ebola prevention and control measures issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Task Force.
Meanwhile, the government has called on the media to intensify public awareness campaigns on Ebola prevention. All media houses across the country are now required to dedicate at least 30 minutes of prime-time programming daily to Ebola sensitization, including information on prevention, detection, and reporting of suspected cases.
Health officials say the measures are precautionary and aimed at preventing Uganda from experiencing another Ebola outbreak as the situation in eastern DRC continues to deteriorate.
