Uganda orders 21-day self-funded isolation for returnees from DR Congo

More than 4,800 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo since May, marking the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history. The virus has since crossed into other nations, prompting Uganda to mandate a 21-day quarantine for its own citizens returning from the border.

The health ministry announced the new restrictions on Sunday. Travelers who have been to DR Congo are now barred from transiting through Uganda. Returning Ugandans must undergo the 21-day isolation period at their own expense. The ministry stated that these measures are designed to keep the country free of the disease.

The move follows the detection of two Ebola cases in travelers who passed through Entebbe International Airport on the same day. One patient was a Kenyan businessman with business interests in DR Congo. He arrived in Nairobi and died two days later. Kenya has since confirmed eight other cases, and a second woman related to the businessman died over the weekend.

The second patient is the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat. She traveled to Kampala for a holiday before testing positive in Nigeria. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed her status. The Kenyan and Nigerian patients had no physical interaction, according to CCTV footage reviewed by Diana Atwine, the health ministry's permanent secretary.

Uganda has not reported any new cases within its borders since the World Health Organization declared the country disease-free in August. However, the ministry is intensifying screening at Entebbe and all land border crossings. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi told the BBC that only essential travelers from DR Congo will be allowed entry. They will be subjected to intense public health measures.

Baryomunsi noted that Uganda shares a border with DR Congo, where transmission continues. Communities remain connected through trade, travel, and family ties. The ministry said on Sunday that 60 people monitored after contact with the Kenyan patient have all been discharged. Uganda and Nigeria are currently working to establish the Nigerian patient's complete travel history and possible routes of exposure.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus. This strain is relatively rare, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. Trials are underway to address the gap. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit.