Uganda Shuts Congo Border to Most Travel as Bundibugyo Ebola Cases Near 1,000
Updated
Updated · CP24 · May 27
Uganda Shuts Congo Border to Most Travel as Bundibugyo Ebola Cases Near 1,000
20 articles · Updated · CP24 · May 27
Emergency-only crossings took effect immediately on Wednesday, with anyone entering Uganda from Congo required to self-isolate for 21 days.
The closure followed rising exposure of Ugandan health workers to Congolese patients who crossed before the outbreak was declared on May 15; Uganda has reported seven cases, including a death in Kampala.
Congo says 101 cases are confirmed, nearly 1,000 are suspected and at least 220 suspected deaths have been recorded, while authorities are tracing more than 3,000 contacts.
The WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency but advised against border closures, warning they can divert traffic to unmonitored crossings along the long, porous frontier.
Containment in eastern Congo is being hampered by armed groups, displacement, weak infrastructure and shortages of protective gear, testing kits and body bags after aid cuts.
Is the collision of disease and conflict in Congo creating an uncontrollable Ebola outbreak?
Why are countries ignoring WHO advice against border closures, potentially worsening the Ebola outbreak?
With no vaccine for this rare Ebola strain, how is science racing to prevent a wider catastrophe?
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Escalates in 2026: 900 Suspected Cases, Border Closures, and International Alarm
Overview
As of May 27, 2026, the region faces a worsening outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported. The true scale of the crisis is likely much larger, as figures are constantly changing with improved surveillance and laboratory testing. Ongoing violence and insecurity make it difficult to contain the disease, further complicating response efforts. In light of these challenges, Project HOPE's Emergency Response Team is deploying to Uganda to work with local partners, aiming to strengthen the fight against the outbreak and support affected communities.