Uganda will impose a 21-day quarantine on citizens returning with a history of travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Health Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, said on 25 October 2026, as the country tightens Ebola precautions despite declaring itself free of the disease.
What the measures are
The measures, reported by Reuters, include intensified traveller screening at Entebbe International Airport and at all land border crossings. Officials will require all travellers entering by air, land or water to complete the official passenger locator form.
“The ministry has intensified traveller screening at Entebbe International Airport and all land border crossings. All travellers intending to enter Uganda by air, land or water must complete the passenger locator form,”
Baryomunsi also said that Uganda has been investigating a separate Ebola case in Nigeria involving a woman who had travelled from Uganda. The ministry is working with Nigerian authorities and international partners to review genomic sequencing, travel histories and interactions linked to that case.
Contact tracing and genomic links
According to the reporting, Uganda has completed monitoring of 60 contacts connected to a Kenyan Ebola case; all of those contacts completed their 21-day monitoring period and were discharged. Genomic analysis showed that Nigeria’s only confirmed Ebola case was closely related to the strain detected in Kenya’s index case, although Nigerian authorities reported no evidence of direct travel or clear epidemiological links between the Kenya case and the Nigerian case.
The measures reflect Uganda’s proximity to the outbreak’s origin in neighbouring DR Congo and the country’s experience in responding to past Ebola outbreaks, which has influenced its readiness to activate entry-screening and quarantine protocols quickly.
What travellers and families should expect
Practical implications for travellers and households include possible mandatory quarantine on return, enhanced screening at ports of entry and the requirement to fill in a passenger locator form. For those planning travel within the region, it means a higher likelihood of delays or additional checks at borders and airports.
- Quarantine duration: 21 days for returning citizens with recent DR Congo travel history.
- Contacts monitored: 60 contacts linked to the Kenyan case completed monitoring and were discharged.
- Screening points: Entebbe International Airport and all land border crossings.
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Quarantine length | 21 days |
| Contacts discharged | 60 |
| Screening locations | Entebbe Airport and land border crossings |
Context and consequences
Uganda’s approach mirrors standard public-health practice for Ebola, whose incubation period can extend to three weeks. By mandating quarantine and strengthening point-of-entry screening, authorities aim to reduce the risk of undetected importation and onward transmission.
For southern Africa, including South African travellers and policymakers, the development is a reminder of the need for vigilance in cross-border health security. Though there is currently no confirmed ongoing transmission within Uganda, the government’s rapid response highlights how neighbouring outbreaks can prompt precautionary measures that affect travel and trade.
Health ministries, airlines and travel operators typically update advice and entry requirements as new information emerges. Travellers planning visits to the Great Lakes region should consult official health ministry guidance, ensure their travel history documentation is accurate, and be prepared for possible quarantine or additional screening on return.
As the situation evolves, genomic sequencing and international coordination remain central to tracing links between cases and guiding proportionate public-health measures. Reuters reported that Ugandan authorities are coordinating with Nigerian officials and other partners to review sequencing, travel histories and interactions related to the recent cases.
Authorities and health experts will likely continue to balance the need to limit disease importation with the practicalities of travel and commerce, keeping communities informed while avoiding unnecessary disruption.
