Uganda slams ‘unfair’ Ebola air travel restrictions

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Uganda has criticized air travel bans imposed by countries like the United States in response to the Ebola outbreak linked to the neighboring DRC, calling the measures unjust given its transparent and effective management of cases within its borders. The dispute highlights challenges in balancing international precautions with support for countries openly reporting outbreaks, as health authorities and organizations coordinate ongoing efforts to contain the virus and prevent cross-border spread.

Uganda has condemned air travel restrictions imposed by several countries, including the United States, in response to a recent Ebola outbreak originating from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing the measures as "unfair." The restrictions come amid public health concerns as the outbreak, first identified in mid-May, has seen confirmed cases in both the DRC and Uganda.

Since May 15, the DRC has reported more than 676 Ebola cases, resulting in 136 deaths. In contrast, Uganda has confirmed 19 cases, with two fatalities. Most of the Ugandan cases involved Congolese nationals who crossed the border into Uganda, raising concerns about the potential for further cross-border transmission. Despite this, Uganda’s management of the outbreak has received positive assessments from health officials for its prompt and transparent response.

Diana Awori, permanent secretary for Uganda’s Health Ministry, spoke out against the travel restrictions on the social media platform X, emphasizing that such blanket bans undermine public confidence in nations that report outbreaks transparently. She noted that the restrictions do not reflect the actual level of risk posed by the situation in Uganda. Awori highlighted coordinated discussions involving Uganda’s Health Ministry, Civil Aviation Authority, diplomatic representatives, and airline operators to address the issue.

In support of Uganda’s response efforts, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the country on Monday, commending Kampala’s approach to managing the outbreak.

The United States has indicated it is closely collaborating with its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as with partners in the DRC and Uganda, to implement a rapid and comprehensive response to the Ebola cases. The U.S. government plans to contribute $50 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to aid in the development of medical countermeasures targeting the specific Ebola strain involved in this outbreak.

Uganda’s position underscores the tension between the need for international vigilance to prevent Ebola’s spread and the impact that restrictive travel policies may have on countries actively reporting and managing outbreaks. Health officials continue to monitor the situation as efforts to contain the virus and mitigate cross-border transmission remain a priority.