Health Ministry cites ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as reason for border restrictions.
Uganda's Ministry of Health has restricted mourners from the Democratic Republic of Congo from attending the burial of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV of Tooro. The advisory comes as the kingdom prepares to receive thousands of visitors for the burial of the 31-year-old monarch, who died after battling brain cancer. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, stated that the ministry anticipates a large influx of mourners, including subjects of the Tooro Kingdom residing in eastern DRC, an area currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak.
The King's remains arrived in Uganda on Friday and were met by crowds along the route to Fort Portal City. Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomire indicated that international dignitaries, including kings from Nigeria, DRC, and Eswatini, are expected. However, the Health Ministry's advisory explicitly states that no mourners from eastern DRC will be permitted to travel, citing the ongoing closure and restriction of the Uganda-DRC border.
Uganda itself was declared Ebola-free weeks ago by the World Health Organization, having completed the required 42-day surveillance period without new cases. The country had recorded twenty cases in an outbreak that began in May, with the initial case imported from the DRC. Despite having no active cases, the nation remains under active surveillance to prevent any further spillover events from neighboring regions.
Why it mattersMourners from the Democratic Republic of Congo are barred from attending the burial due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in their region, posing a health risk.
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