Uganda Shuts Border with DR Congo as Ebola Crisis Deepens

NAIROBI — Uganda has shut its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo effective immediately, the government announced Wednesday, marking its most aggressive step yet to halt the cross-border spread of the Ebola virus.

The closure will last four weeks, with exceptions only for Ebola response teams, humanitarian and security personnel, and essential food and cargo shipments, senior health official Diana Atwine told reporters during a press briefing.

Uganda has so far confirmed seven Ebola cases and one death. The outbreak’s epicenter lies in Congo’s Ituri province, where the situation has grown increasingly dire. According to the World Health Organization, more than 900 suspected cases and over 220 deaths have been recorded in Congo, prompting the agency to classify the rare Bundibugyo strain as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Last week, Uganda introduced an initial set of restrictions, including the suspension of public transport between the two countries. But as cases continued to surface, officials opted for a full border closure. Atwine added that any individual granted authorization to enter Uganda from Congo must undergo mandatory self-isolation for 21 days.

The Bundibugyo strain, one of the less common Ebola species, was first identified in Uganda in 2007. While it has a lower fatality rate than the Zaire strain, it remains highly contagious and poses significant challenges for containment in densely populated border areas where informal crossings are frequent. The closure is expected to disrupt local trade and daily movement for thousands of families who rely on cross-border commerce, though officials say public health remains the priority.