Uganda orders 21‑day quarantine for citizens returning from Congo amid Ebola concerns

21‑day quarantine for returnees from Congo

On 25 October 2026, Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced that Ugandan citizens who have travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be required to undergo a 21‑day quarantine upon arrival in Uganda. The announcement was made at a press conference in Kampala, where the minister also highlighted that the country remains officially Ebola‑free after declaring the end of its latest outbreak in July. The decision follows two recent Ebola cases that were detected outside Uganda but are believed to have originated in the DRC. One case was confirmed in Kenya, where a patient had travelled from Congo to Uganda and then to Nairobi on 3 October. The patient died two days later. The second case was confirmed in Nigeria, involving a 42‑year‑old woman who had returned from Uganda via Addis Ababa to Abuja on 3 October. She is currently in isolation and has shown significant improvement. Both cases travelled through Entebbe International Airport on the same day, but investigators have found no physical interaction between them. The Kenyan case’s 60 contacts have completed their 21‑day monitoring period and have been discharged.

Background

Uganda shares a border with the DRC, where the current Ebola outbreak began. The country has previously dealt with several Ebola outbreaks and has established protocols for monitoring and containing the disease. In July 2026, Uganda declared the end of its latest outbreak, stating that it was Ebola‑free. Despite this declaration, concerns have risen due to the recent cases in Kenya and Nigeria. The Nigerian case has been linked genetically to the strain detected in the Kenyan index case, though Nigerian authorities have stated there is no evidence of a direct connection between the two cases. Swiss authorities have suggested that the Nigerian patient may have contracted Ebola in Uganda, a claim that Health Minister Baryomunsi has dismissed as premature. To address the developing crisis, Uganda’s health authorities have stepped up checks on visitors arriving via Entebbe International Airport and every terrestrial entry point. Individuals planning to arrive in the country through air, land, or sea routes are now required to fill out a passenger locator document.

Why it matters

The quarantine measure is aimed at preventing the potential spread of Ebola within Uganda. The 21‑day period aligns with the virus’s incubation period and is a standard precautionary measure used in previous outbreaks. By restricting movement of returnees who have visited the DRC, Uganda seeks to mitigate the risk of new cases emerging. The decision also reflects the broader regional context. The World Health Organization’s Director‑General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently reported an attack on a nurse and a severely injured health worker in Bafwasende, a northern Congolese town, underscoring the dangers faced by frontline responders. The incident highlights the importance of robust safety protocols for health workers and the need for coordinated international efforts to manage the outbreak.

What happens next

The Ugandan government will enforce the 21‑day quarantine for all eligible returnees. The health department will keep tracking the incident by analyzing genetic data, travel records, and contact patterns in collaboration with Nigerian officials and global allies. No specific dates for the lifting of the quarantine have been announced, and the policy will remain in place until further notice. The policy has been communicated to all points of entry, and travellers are required to submit a passenger locator form. The Ministry has also announced that all contacts linked to the Kenyan Ebola case have been discharged after completing their monitoring period. The decision has been met with scrutiny from various stakeholders, including Swiss authorities who have expressed concerns about the potential source of the Nigerian case. The Ugandan Ministry has stated that it will rely on scientific evidence rather than political statements in its investigations.