Atwine orders stricter Ebola screening at DRC border crossings

What the report says

Uganda’s Health Ministry has ordered tighter Ebola screening at border points with the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the neighbouring country responds to an outbreak. According to The Observer, Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine made the appeal on Thursday at a meeting in Mpondwe, Kasese district, where she also pressed for strict enforcement of standard operating procedures in public places and border communities.

Atwine reportedly criticised immigration officers at the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha crossing, saying some had allowed Congolese nationals into Uganda without proper checks. She warned that officials who help facilitate unsafe or unauthorised crossings could face arrest and dismissal. The ministry also urged residents in border areas to stay alert, given Uganda’s close ties to the border region and frequent cross-border movement.

The report said Uganda does not currently have confirmed Ebola cases, but authorities remain concerned about regional exposure. Dr Rude Bwambale, chair of parliament’s health committee, backed the response and said the government was weighing support for communities that rely on cross-border trade while reducing transmission risks. Kasese leaders also said the country’s past experience with Ebola and COVID-19 had helped improve preparedness.

The meeting brought together officials from 11 districts bordering the DRC, along with a Congolese delegation. The Observer also noted that Africa CDC had reported Ebola patients in Kenya and Nigeria who had passed through Uganda, although investigators had not confirmed any direct link to transmission.