Uganda’s response to the latest Ebola outbreak has come under renewed focus following fresh revelations about how the virus spread across borders, with health officials warning of persistent regional vulnerabilities and the need for stronger investment in medical research.
Speaking during an interview on NBS Television on Sunday, Director of Public Health Dr Daniel Kyabayinze disclosed that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was declared late, complicating early containment efforts in neighboring countries.
According to Dr Kyabayinze, delayed disclosure of the outbreak meant that infected individuals unknowingly crossed into Uganda while seeking treatment, effectively introducing the virus into the country.
He described the movement as a form of “medical tourism,” where patients traveled in search of better healthcare without awareness of the underlying infection.
“The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo was announced late,” he stated, adding that by the time authorities became aware, transmission had already occurred across the border.
He further highlighted the challenge of screening for Ebola at entry points, noting that symptoms often take days to appear and are initially non-specific.
This, he explained, makes early detection difficult, increasing the risk of undetected spread.
“Screening is complicated because symptoms only show after infection and are not specific to Ebola until the later stages,” he said.
Dr Kyabayinze cautioned against self-medication and unregulated treatment attempts, warning that such practices could worsen the situation.
He emphasized that Ebola requires specialized handling and should only be managed by trained health professionals.
In response to the outbreak, Uganda moved to close its border with the DRC, allowing only limited cargo movement. Dr Kyabayinze defended the decision as timely and based on risk assessment, noting that while regional cooperation remains important, public health safety must take priority.
“Whereas we mean well as members of the East African Community, we must understand where the risk lies and intervene appropriately,” he said.
The health official also called for increased government funding toward medical research, particularly in studying high-risk pathogens such as Ebola.
He argued that investing in local research capacity is critical for strengthening national and global health security.
“The government must invest more in research so we can develop our own countermeasures,” he added.