By Moses Andama
www.mknewslink.com
In Hoima—
Despite Ministry of Health (MoH) declaring Uganda free of Ebola disease, communities on border districts have been reminded to remain vigilant about pandemic which may sneak from the continuously affected neighboring countries.
On 28th July, 2026, minister of health, Dr. Chris Bariyomunsi declared Uganda free of Ebola disease but with emphasis on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which should remain operational to all the general public.
Bunyoro is one of the cited sub regions with districts at a higher risk of attack by Ebola disease since it directly boarders Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the East, a neighboring country which continue to report new Ebola cases and deaths stall.
Currently as of this year DRC has over 3000 registered cases with over 1000 death stall with more concentration in Kasenyi in the Eastern DRC. Uganda from May, 2026 to June, 2026, registered twenty Ebola cases where two death cases were reported and eighteen recovered from the disease.
While meeting the Bunyoro media practitioners on the current status of Ebola in the country in Hoima city this afternoon, Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a senior communication officer at Ministry of Health (MoH) said that all the border districts remain in interest of the country since there is a risk of frequent immigration which can lead to new transmission.
“Much as the country has been declared free of Ebola disease, the border districts especially those in Bunyoro still remain on high interest to the country since there is a higher chances of having new transmission from those who might sneak into the country through the borders,” Ainebyoona noted.
“We however remain vigilant on a higher alert given that our immediate neighboring country Democratoc Republic of Congo (DRC) still suffers the pandemic with new rising Ebola cases being registered in the country,” He continued.
“We also remain on response preparedness phase to ensure that our communities with the DRC remain on alert to report persons using porous borders to sneak into the country and also report any cases of patients showing signs of Ebola disease,”Ainebyoona assured communities.
As one of the strategies, he said that the ministry has embarked on training media practitioners along border districts to ensure responsible reporting about the pandemic without causing contradictions.
Ainebyoona therefore warned journalists against spreading false information without clear evidence and proven ground facts, saying that it can lead to negative consequences including having negative impacts on country’s economy.
UNICEF official only identified as Charity, called for maximum cohesion in ensuring community sensitization about the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the journalists expressed their gratitude upon the engagement on the current Ebola status in the country.
The engagement which was to ensure that there is a continuity of community sensitization about the Ebola pandemic despite government’s declaration on Ebola free status by media was organized by ministry of health in partnership with UNICEF.