Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine has warned security and immigration officers against lax border controls at Mpondwe, citing reports of irregular crossings and the risk of Ebola spreading across Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Ministry of Health has called for tighter border controls at Mpondwe in Kasese District after reports of Ebola cases in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo raised concerns about the risk of cross-border transmission.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, issued the warning during a stakeholder engagement at Mpondwe, where she criticised security and immigration officers over alleged lapses in screening people entering Uganda.
Atwine said she had received reports that some people were crossing from Congo into Uganda without following established procedures, despite heightened concerns about the Ebola outbreak.
“I have information that security at this border is allowing people from Congo to get into Uganda. We cannot afford to be complacent when Ebola is this close to our borders. Everyone responsible for protecting this country must take their work seriously and ensure that all necessary measures are followed,” Atwine said.
She expressed concern over reports that approximately 100 people were entering Uganda from Congo daily despite restrictions on movement, questioning whether the existing controls were being effectively enforced.
“You are simply committing a crime by allowing to be bribed with 5,000, 10,000 shillings to let anyone into our country yet cases are just in our neighbourhood,” she said.
Atwine also raised concerns about Congolese nationals reportedly using Uganda as a transit route to conduct business in other countries, warning that cross-border movements required appropriate screening and compliance with immigration procedures.
She said there were reports of people entering the country concealed in cargo trucks, prompting plans for more thorough inspections of vehicles and their goods.
“Other people are reported boarding truck to get into the country. We are now going to begin thorough checks of trucks and their merchandise,” Atwine said.
She urged security and immigration personnel to remain vigilant and ensure that all people entering the country complied with the applicable procedures.
“Security and immigration officers must not allow people to enter the country recklessly without following the established procedures. We must protect Uganda from the risk of importing Ebola,” she said.
Atwine warned that officers found to have facilitated unauthorised entry or compromised established procedures would face accountability measures.
“Any officer found to have compromised the country's security by negligently facilitating entry in violation of the established procedures will be held accountable. We cannot take chances with the lives of Ugandans,” she said.
The ministry has also called for closer coordination among security, immigration and health authorities to strengthen surveillance, enforce screening procedures and improve preparedness at border crossing points.
During the engagement, officials discussed a proposal to establish an Ebola treatment centre in Bulongo, about 45 kilometres from the border, to improve the capacity to manage suspected cases should the need arise.
The ministry further urged institutions responsible for public spaces to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
“All public places must strengthen infection prevention and control measures. We need every responsible institution to play its part in preventing the spread of Ebola,” Atwine said.
The heightened vigilance comes amid the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organisation has assessed the risk to countries sharing land borders with the DRC as high and has called for stronger cross-border preparedness and surveillance.
Uganda declared its own Ebola outbreak over in July 2026 after the last confirmed patient was discharged and no further transmission was detected. However, the WHO has continued to warn of the risk of cross-border spread.
The effectiveness of screening at Mpondwe and coordination among government agencies will remain central to Uganda’s efforts to detect suspected infections early and prevent further transmission.