Former Assistant Inspector General of Police Asan Kasingye has raised concern over what he terms as unfair international treatment of Uganda following the recent Ebola outbreak, warning that the restrictions being imposed could have negative economic consequences for the country.
In a statement reacting to the global response to the outbreak, Kasingye said Uganda is being “harshly judged” compared to some of its regional neighbours, despite being transparent about its situation and containment efforts.
“I think Uganda is harshly judged by other countries on Ebola, and this may hurt our economy. I have seen fellow Rotarians’ visas to the RI convention cancelled because of Ebola. Some flights have been cancelled by certain airlines,” Kasingye stated.
He questioned why similar restrictions were not being uniformly applied across the region, suggesting that neighbouring countries to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Ebola cases have also been reported, may not be fully transparent.
“Yet, other countries neighboring RDC are not affected. Could they be concealing cases?” he posed.
Kasingye defended Uganda’s handling of the situation, saying the country had taken a responsible and open approach in reporting cases and implementing control measures.
“I am glad my country is open about the cases & steps taken to stop the spread of the disease. That’s what responsible countries do,” he added.
His remarks come at a time when Uganda is managing a confirmed Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain.
According to recent health updates, the country has recorded nine confirmed cases and one death, with infections reported in Kampala and Wakiso districts.
Health authorities have also been monitoring hundreds of contacts, while stressing that no sustained community transmission has been detected.
The outbreak has triggered heightened surveillance measures, including contact tracing, infection prevention protocols, and movement restrictions in some high-risk areas.
Uganda has also intensified coordination with international health agencies to contain the spread.
Despite these efforts, the outbreak has already begun to affect international travel and perception, with reports indicating cancellations of flights and event-related visa restrictions for travellers linked to Uganda.
Public health experts continue to emphasize that Ebola outbreaks often trigger global anxiety, even when case numbers remain limited, due to the virus’s high fatality rate and history of cross-border spread.