Uganda Assured Safe for Tourism Despite Ebola Outbreak, President Museveni States

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a strong assurance to the international community, emphasizing that Uganda is safe for tourists and business travelers, even amidst recent cases of the Ebola virus.

The President addressed the nation on November 15, 2022, to update on the government’s efforts to contain the Ebola situation, which has been localized to only six of Uganda’s 146 districts.

President Museveni expressed concern over reports of tourists canceling trips and postponing bookings due to fears of contracting Ebola, noting that this has also led to the postponement of international conferences and meetings.

“I have been informed that tourists have been cancelling their trips to Uganda and some have even postponed their bookings in hotels and lodges due to the Ebola outbreak. Furthermore, international conferences and meetings have been postponed and some moved to other countries due to the Ebola outbreak. This is most unfortunate,” the President stated.

He reiterated that the Ugandan government is implementing stringent measures to control the epidemic and prevent its spread beyond the affected districts. These include sharing a list of Ebola contacts with immigration authorities to restrict their international travel, and conducting temperature and symptom screening, as well as contact history checks at all airport and land border entry points.

The President highlighted that control interventions, such as community sensitization by Village Health Teams, training of healthcare workers, ensuring safe burials, and early treatment at Ebola Treatment Units, have been intensified. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in cases in Mubende district, with the President noting only one new case in the last 18 days.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has also affirmed its commitment to visitor safety, strictly adhering to Ministry of Health guidelines across all national parks and protected areas to ensure a secure environment for tourists.

“Uganda remains safe and we welcome international guests,” President Museveni concluded.

Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority