KANUNGU – Kanungu District has lifted all internal Ebola-related public health and business restrictions that were put in place to curb disease transmission, mostly in the border areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The decision was reached during a task force meeting at the District Health Boardroom on Wednesday, chaired by Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and task force chairperson, Ambrose Mwesigye Amanyire.
The development follows Uganda’s declaration as Ebola-free after the successful completion of the mandatory 42-day monitoring period, which began after the discharge of the last locally transmitted patient.
During the district meeting, it was agreed that citizens across Kanungu District should resume normal daily economic and social activities, marking a full return to public life that had been curtailed.
The task force also cleared the reopening of weekly markets, businesses, entertainment venues, sports events, and social gatherings, including parties, church functions, and school visitation days.
The district departmental and sectoral heads were tasked with actively supervising the reopenings across all sectors to ensure a smooth and safe transition for the community.
RDC Ambrose Mwesigye noted that despite the internal relaxation, Kanungu remains a vulnerable high-risk border district, with active Ebola cases continuing across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He added that the official border points, including Kyeshero and Ishasha, alongside informal entry paths along the frontier, remain strictly closed to cross-border trade and movement.
“We have reopened our district to normal life, but we must keep our borders closed to danger. Kanungu is happy about this victory, but we know the fight is still going on just across the river. Let us enjoy our freedom, but let us never forget that being careless can cost us dearly,” stated RDC Ambrose.
The RDC further mandated security forces to enforce the border shutdown until formal technical guidance is issued by the Ministry of Health, as celebration must be tempered with vigilance.
The Kanungu District Health Officer (DHO), Dr. Birungi Mutahunga, clarified that the official 42-day Ebola countdown was calculated from the last local case, not imported ones, and urged the public not to lower their guard.
He reminded the community that zero local cases do not mean zero risk, and called for continued vigilance through active community reporting and ongoing Village Health Team trainings under the One Health approach.
“We have counted 42 days without a local case, but that does not mean we are completely safe. We share a border with a country still fighting Ebola, so every person must remain alert and report any suspicious sickness immediately,” stated DHO Dr. Birungi.
Meanwhile, the District Task Force reiterated that key Infection Prevention and Control protocols remain mandatory across all public, commercial, and institutional spaces.
The public is required to maintain regular handwashing, undergo temperature checks at entrances, observe social distancing, and strictly avoid handshakes and hugs.
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