ENTEBBE — President Yoweri Museveni has reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in containing the ongoing Ebola outbreak, stressing that regional cooperation, early detection and prompt treatment remain essential to preventing the spread of the disease.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting at State House, Entebbe, with the DRC Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, Dr Kamba Mulanda Samuel Roger, who delivered a special message from the Congolese government.
During the meeting, President Museveni said Uganda had successfully contained its recent Ebola outbreak through early detection, timely treatment and strict public health interventions.
He explained that although several health workers were infected before the disease was identified, no further local transmission occurred after authorities implemented the necessary containment measures.
According to the President, Uganda treated both Congolese and Ugandan Ebola patients, with most making full recoveries following medical care. He noted that the few fatalities recorded involved patients who sought treatment at an advanced stage of the illness.
President Museveni said Uganda could not close its border with the DRC because of the extensive trade links and longstanding social and economic ties between communities on both sides of the frontier.
Instead, he said, the Government strengthened screening and surveillance at border entry points, particularly along cargo transport routes, to protect public health while maintaining the movement of essential goods and services.
To bolster the regional response, President Museveni proposed the establishment of Ebola treatment centres in eastern DRC in partnership with the Congolese government.
He said locating treatment facilities closer to affected communities would enable patients to receive timely care, reduce cross-border movement of infected persons and help contain the outbreak more effectively.
The President reiterated Uganda’s readiness to continue working closely with the DRC by providing treatment, technical expertise and any other support required to control the disease.
“We shall do everything within our means to help because the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo are our brothers and sisters,” President Museveni said.
The meeting highlighted continued cooperation between Uganda and the DRC in responding to cross-border public health emergencies and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening coordinated regional action against Ebola.
Also present were the Minister of Health, Dr Chris Baryomunsi; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine; the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, and his team; the Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga; and other senior government officials.