Canada extends travel restrictions on Uganda

What the report says

Canada has extended temporary immigration and border measures affecting Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan because of concerns about Ebola Bundibugyo transmission linked to the ongoing outbreak in the DRC, according to The Observer. The Canadian government said in a September 28 statement that the controls would remain in place for another 60 days, until November 27, 2026.

Under the measures, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is suspending final processing of immigration documents for people whose last country of residence was one of the affected countries, and the restrictions also cover travellers who transited through them. That means some applicants may not be able to travel to Canada even if they already hold an approved visa, permit or electronic travel authorisation, while their cases remain under review.

The extension comes after Uganda was declared free of Ebola Bundibugyo disease on August 27, following 42 days without a new confirmed case, and more than a month after the country’s last patient was discharged. The article says Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases in the outbreak, including imported cases linked to the DRC and locally acquired infections, with two deaths. However, the World Health Organisation has warned that Uganda remains at risk of reintroduction because of cross-border movement and continued transmission in the DRC.

The broader context is that the DRC outbreak remains active, and Canada says the measures are intended to reduce the chance of Ebola entering the country. Public health officials have debated the value of broad travel restrictions, while Uganda has previously objected to being grouped with the DRC under international travel controls.