Uganda's migrant workers decline by 34.6% as Ebola restrictions slow cross-border movement

What the report says

Uganda saw a 34.6% drop in migrant workers leaving the country in June 2026, according to the Ministry of Finance’s June macroeconomic report cited by Nile Post. The report said the number tracked by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control fell from 1,898 in May to 1,241 in June.

The ministry linked the decline to travel restrictions put in place to help contain an Ebola outbreak. Those measures limited movement across borders and slowed international labour migration, affecting Ugandans seeking work outside the country. The article presents the decline as one example of how public health controls can have wider economic consequences.

Nile Post said the finance ministry’s broader report also showed mixed economic and social trends in Uganda during the month. Food inflation was unchanged, while energy, fuels and utilities costs rose. The report also noted gains in social protection through the SAGE program, alongside weaker air quality in Kampala, higher malaria indicators and a wider trade deficit.

As background, migration flows in East Africa can be sensitive to border controls, health alerts and labour market conditions in destination countries. In this case, the key development is not only the fall in migrant departures, but the way an Ebola-related response appears to have interrupted cross-border movement and affected employment opportunities abroad.