EBOLA THREAT: Uganda exempts cargo and food transport from DRC border closure to protect trade

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ugandan government clarified Wednesday that its decision to temporarily close its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo will exempt cargo, food transportation, and humanitarian operations to minimize disruptions to regional supply chains.

The clarification follows an emergency directive issued by the National Task Force on Ebola Response, which ordered a mandatory 21-day self-isolation period for all travelers returning from the DRC to prevent the spread of the virus.

Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine stated that while standard passenger traffic will face strict restrictions, vital commercial and relief corridors will remain open under tight regulatory oversight.

The only exceptions to the border closure are for authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and essential security personnel, Atwine said during a briefing at the Uganda Media Centre. She emphasized that all exempted personnel must undergo strict health screening and monitoring protocols at ports of entry.

The decision to protect commercial freight ensures that trade between the two nations can continue. The DRC remains a critical economic partner for Uganda, with annual bilateral trade surpassing 1 billion dollars, heavily driven by Ugandan manufacturing exports like cement and agricultural products.

Logistics companies and drivers permitted to cross must comply with rigorous surveillance protocols, including detailed documentation and the completion of traveler locator forms administered by immigration and health authorities.

According to the Ministry of Health, Uganda has not recorded any new confirmed Ebola cases since Monday, May 25. However, seven contacts linked to previous cases, primarily healthcare workers, are currently under continuous monitoring.

While standard trade logistics are protected, the government has imposed a 21-day mandatory self-isolation period for all individual returnees, a move that is expected to temporarily suspend informal, small-scale cross-border commerce. Border schools will remain open but are required to conduct daily temperature checks on students who recently traveled to the DRC.

National authorities urged traders and the public to cooperate with health teams at the border to ensure both economic continuity and health security.