Uganda has criticised the wave of international travel restrictions imposed in response to the Ebola outbreak in the region, describing the measures as “unfair” and not aligned with the actual level of risk.
Israel has joined other global communities in imposing travel restrictions linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak, extending its measures to several countries in the region, including Kenya, despite no reported cases in the country.
Airlines have been directed to ensure compliance by denying boarding to citizens and residents of the listed countries. “You are required to prevent foreign citizens and residents of the following countries from boarding flights arriving in Israel: the DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda,” the memo stated.
Officials in Kampala say the country’s response to the outbreak has been strong and transparent, despite growing concern abroad over cross-border transmission from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the situation remains far more severe.
“Today, the Ugandan Health Ministry, together with the Civil Aviation Authority, Ambassadors, and airline operators serving Uganda, discussed the unfair travel restrictions imposed on Uganda due to the current Ebola situation,” said Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, in a statement posted on X.
Uganda notes that while vigilance remains important, sweeping restrictions undermine international confidence in countries that openly report outbreaks.
“While we appreciate the need for vigilance, blanket restrictions undermine confidence in countries that report outbreaks openly, and are not commensurate with the actual risk,” she said.
Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed cases of Ebola with only two deaths reported so far. Health officials note that most of the infected individuals were Congolese nationals who crossed into Uganda from the DRC, which has reported more than 676 cases and at least 136 deaths since mid-May.
Several governments have introduced precautionary travel restrictions. The United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates are among those that have imposed entry bans or limitations on travellers from Uganda, the DRC, and South Sudan, citing the risk of further spread.
The tightening of travel rules has sparked renewed debate among global health authorities, particularly over whether blanket bans are an effective response to Ebola outbreaks.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has repeatedly warned against such measures, saying they can do more harm than good.
WHO officials argue that widespread travel restrictions may push people to use informal and unmonitored border crossings, making it harder for health authorities to screen travellers, trace contacts, and detect new infections early. This, they say, could ultimately weaken outbreak control efforts rather than strengthen them.
WHO stresses that Ebola is not an airborne disease, and therefore does not require extreme containment measures such as full border closures or sweeping travel bans. Instead, they recommended targeted interventions focused on surveillance, isolation of confirmed cases, and rigorous contact tracing.
Public health experts have also pointed out that Uganda’s relatively low number of cases and deaths reflects effective coordination between national authorities and international partners.
The country’s approach, they say, demonstrates the importance of early reporting and transparency in managing infectious disease outbreaks.
Kampala maintains that current travel restrictions risk punishing countries that are actively cooperating with global health systems. They argue that such measures could discourage timely reporting in future outbreaks if nations fear economic or diplomatic consequences.
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