Uganda closed its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 27, 2026, as a rare Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus spread across both nations, with over 900 suspected cases and 223 deaths reported in the DRC alone by May 27. The move, which went into immediate effect, restricted travel to emergency cases, while the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that such closures risked increasing disease transmission through informal crossings. The outbreak, the 17th in DRC’s history, has been exacerbated by conflict in Ituri province, where 90% of cases have emerged, and by a lack of medical supplies and infrastructure.
Uganda’s Border Closure and Its Controversy
Uganda’s decision to shut its border with the DRC, effective immediately, marked a sharp departure from WHO guidance. The Ugandan Ministry of Health, citing the need to prevent contagion, stated that only emergency-related crossings—such as for outbreak response, humanitarian aid, or security—would be permitted. “All authorized entrants shall be subjected to strict health screening,” the ministry said, adding that anyone entering from the DRC under non-emergency circumstances would face 21 days of mandatory isolation. This measure, however, drew criticism from the WHO, which argued that border closures could drive people to use informal crossings, increasing the risk of unmonitored disease spread.
The closure came after Ugandan health workers contracted the virus while treating Congolese patients. By May 29, Uganda had confirmed eight cases, including one death, linked to the outbreak. The first local infections were reported on May 25, when a driver and a health worker tested positive after exposure to a Congolese patient who had died in Kampala on May 14. The WHO’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged warring parties in the DRC to declare a ceasefire, stating, “No cause, no conflict, no grievance is worth condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease.”
The DRC’s health ministry reported 101 confirmed cases and 18 deaths by May 29, with over 3,000 potential contacts under investigation. The outbreak, which began in Ituri province, has been complicated by armed conflict, displacement, and poor infrastructure. “Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict,” Tedros said, highlighting the region’s vulnerability. The Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine or treatment, has also infected a U.S. doctor who treated patients in the DRC and is now receiving care in Germany.
For more on this story, see WHO Declares Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak a PHEIC: Key Temporary Recommendations for Global Response.
WHO’s Stance on Border Closures
The WHO has consistently opposed border closures, calling them “out of fear and have no basis in science.” In a statement on May 27, the agency warned that shutting the DRC-Uganda border would push movement to informal crossings, which are “not monitored, thus increasing the chances of the spread of disease.” The DRC-Uganda border, spanning hundreds of kilometers, includes numerous footpaths used for daily trade and family visits. “The agency is working closely with the DRC government to stop the outbreak,” Tedros said, adding that he would visit Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, in the coming days.
Despite the WHO’s warnings, Uganda’s permanent secretary of health, Dr. Diana Atwine, defended the closure, stating that “travel across the Congo border will be authorized only in emergency cases.” This decision contrasted with the DRC’s own challenges in containing the outbreak, where contact tracing and isolation efforts have been hampered by insecurity and limited resources. The DRC’s health ministry reported that 125 confirmed cases had been recorded in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces by May 27, with 17 deaths.
Challenges in Containing the Outbreak
The outbreak’s rapid spread has been compounded by a lack of medical supplies and community distrust. In the DRC, health workers face attacks on treatment centers, with 18 suspected Ebola patients escaping after a treatment tent was set on fire in Congo. Aid groups have also struggled with shortages of personal protective equipment, testing kits, and body bags. “Aid cuts last year by the U.S. and other nations are devastating for eastern Congo,” a health expert told PBS, noting that the region’s unique challenges—conflict, displacement, and weak infrastructure—make containment efforts particularly difficult.
This follows our earlier report, WHO Upgrades Ebola Risk as Congo Outbreak Spreads Rapidly.
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni urged citizens to “stop shaking hands” and postponed a major religious event to curb transmission. The government also suspended public transportation and flights between the two countries. Meanwhile, the DRC’s health ministry reported that the first confirmed Ebola survivor had been released from a treatment center in Rwampara, a town at the heart of the outbreak. “Both patients have been admitted to the designated treatment unit and are now receiving care,” said Dr. Charles Olaro, the national director of health services, though the broader response remains under strain.
The Human Toll and Global Implications
The outbreak has already claimed lives across borders, with 223 suspected deaths in the DRC and 18 confirmed deaths in the DRC and Uganda combined. Save the Children reported that 25% of the 17 confirmed deaths in the DRC were children, underscoring the virus’s indiscriminate impact. The lack of a vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain has left health workers and communities vulnerable. “The virus is spread through close contact with sick or deceased patients’ bodily fluids,” the AP noted, emphasizing the risks faced by caregivers and family members.
The situation has drawn international attention, with the WHO declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The agency has called for “immediate effect” in scaling up response efforts, including deploying rapid response teams and strengthening surveillance. However, the DRC’s ongoing conflicts and the region’s porous borders pose significant obstacles. As the outbreak continues to evolve, the coming weeks will test the resilience of both nations’ health systems and the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation.
For more on the DRC’s response, see WHO’s latest update.
