Date: May 27, 2026 l By Tammy Williams
Uganda has announced the temporary closure of its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a sharp rise in cases linked to a rare strain of the Ebola virus spreading across eastern Congo.
Ugandan authorities said the emergency measure was introduced with immediate effect after suspected cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola surged in neighbouring DRC, where health officials are struggling to contain the outbreak. The rare strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
According to Ugandan health officials, only emergency crossings involving humanitarian operations, security matters, cargo transportation, and outbreak response activities will be permitted during the closure period. Travellers allowed into Uganda under exceptional circumstances will reportedly undergo mandatory 21-day isolation and monitoring.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health stated that the decision followed concerns that healthcare workers and residents may have been exposed to infected individuals who crossed from Congo before the outbreak was officially declared earlier this month. Uganda has already confirmed several Ebola cases connected to the outbreak, including a fatality recorded in Kampala.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning that the virus poses a high regional risk due to frequent cross-border movement, displacement caused by armed conflict, and weak healthcare infrastructure in affected areas.
Health authorities in Congo say the number of suspected infections is approaching 1,000, with more than 220 suspected deaths already reported. Officials are currently tracing thousands of contacts in an effort to contain the spread of the disease.
The WHO has discouraged complete border closures, arguing that such restrictions could push people toward unofficial crossing points that are difficult to monitor, potentially worsening transmission risks. However, Ugandan officials defended the decision as necessary to protect public health and prevent wider contagion in East Africa.
International health agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have issued advisories urging heightened surveillance and caution for travellers and healthcare workers in the region.