Uganda has criticised travel restrictions imposed by several countries, including the United States, over a regional Ebola outbreak, describing the measures as unfair and disproportionate to the actual public health risk.
The East African nation said the restrictions could discourage countries from openly reporting disease outbreaks, despite Uganda’s response to the latest Ebola cases receiving international praise.
Since the outbreak was detected in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in mid-May, Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths. Health authorities say almost all those infected were Congolese nationals who crossed the border from the DRC.
In contrast, the outbreak has had a far greater impact in the DRC, where authorities have confirmed more than 676 cases and 136 deaths since last month.
“Today, the Ugandan Health Ministry, together with the Civil Aviation Authority, ambassadors and airline operators serving Uganda, discussed the unfair travel restrictions imposed on Uganda due to the current Ebola situation,” said Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
“While we appreciate the need for vigilance, blanket restrictions undermine confidence in countries that report outbreaks openly, and are not commensurate with the actual risk,” she added in a post on X.
The United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates are among countries that have introduced entry restrictions affecting travellers from Uganda, the DRC and neighbouring South Sudan in response to the outbreak.
Uganda’s criticism comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) commended the country’s efforts to contain the virus. During a visit to Uganda on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Kampala’s response strategy.
However, the UN health agency also warned that the outbreak is continuing to spread into new areas of the DRC, raising concerns about further cross-border transmission.
The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Ebola is spread through close contact with infected bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever. The disease has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa over the past five decades.
Health officials say surveillance and cross-border monitoring remain critical as authorities work to contain the outbreak and prevent further regional spread.
