President Museveni Reaffirms Uganda’s Support to DRC in Regional Ebola Response

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reported that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged continued Ugandan support for the Democratic Republic of Congo as it responds to an Ebola outbreak. The remarks were made at State House in Entebbe during a meeting with Dr. Kamba Mulanda Samuel Roger, DRC’s Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, who was said to have delivered a special message from the Congolese government.

According to the report, Museveni said Uganda’s recent Ebola experience showed the value of early identification, treatment and strict public health controls. He noted that some health workers were infected before the disease was recognized, but that further local spread was prevented after control measures were put in place. He also said both Ugandan and Congolese patients had been treated in Uganda, with deaths linked to late presentation for care.

Museveni argued that closing the Uganda-DRC border was not a practical option because of trade and close community ties across the frontier. Instead, he said Uganda had focused on surveillance and screening at entry points, especially for cargo movement, to reduce health risks while keeping essential goods moving.

The report said Museveni proposed setting up Ebola treatment centres in eastern DRC in cooperation with Congolese authorities, so patients can receive care nearer home and reduce cross-border movement by infected people. The meeting was also attended by senior Ugandan officials, including Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba and UPDF Land Forces Commander Lt Gen. Kayanja Muhanga.