Mourners from DRC barred from King Oyo’s burial

What the report says

The Ugandan Ministry of Health has said mourners from the Democratic Republic of Congo will not be allowed to attend the burial of Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV, according to The Independent Uganda. The advisory was issued as the kingdom prepares for a large funeral gathering and health officials cited concern over travel from eastern DRC, where Ebola is currently affecting some areas.

The report says King Oyo, who was 31 and died after battling a rare brain cancer, is due to be buried on September 12 at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal City. Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, said the ministry was expecting a significant number of mourners, including subjects of the Tooro Kingdom living across the border. The article also says the kingdom’s leadership had anticipated international guests, including royal representatives from Nigeria, DRC and Eswatini.

The ministry’s guidance says the Uganda-DRC border remains closed and travel restrictions are still in place, while an official government link will be used so people in DRC and elsewhere can follow the burial virtually. The report notes that Uganda has no active Ebola cases at present and was declared Ebola-free weeks earlier, but health authorities say surveillance remains in place because the earlier outbreak was linked to an imported case from DRC. That background helps explain why officials are taking extra precautions around the funeral.