Uganda Closes DRC Border for 4 Weeks to Contain BDBV Spread

On May 28, 2026, Uganda announced a 4-week closure of all official border crossings with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing the ongoing Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) outbreak and the confirmed importation of 7 lab-confirmed cases into Kampala. The closure applies to passenger movement while permitting essential goods and humanitarian supply convoys under enhanced screening protocols. Ugandan Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said the decision was taken after consultation with the Cabinet and the WHO Uganda Country Office, noting that the Uganda-DRC border sees an estimated 15,000–20,000 crossings per day through the Bundibugyo, Kasindi, and Mpondwe crossing points — all in proximity to the Ituri outbreak zone. The closure is the most significant unilateral border action taken by any country in the 2026 outbreak and directly contradicts WHO's formal IHR recommendation against blanket border closures, which warns such measures push informal crossings underground and reduce surveillance visibility. WHO issued a statement acknowledging Uganda's sovereign right while reiterating its position that enhanced health screening at open crossings is epidemiologically superior. Rwanda, South Sudan, and Burundi have maintained open borders with enhanced screening. Affected Ugandan communities near Bundibugyo town — which gave the virus its name from the 2007 outbreak — reported anxiety about supply disruptions. Effective enforcement of a porous mountain border running through dense forest is considered logistically challenging by security analysts.