Four international airlines have suspended and restricted travel for passengers originating from Uganda following the recent Ebola outbreak, despite health authorities reporting significant progress in containing the disease. According to the health ministry, Uganda has not registered a new Ebola case in eight straight days. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) stated that the imposed restrictions have heavily impacted passenger movement through Entebbe International Airport and threatened efforts to restore confidence in the country as a safe travel destination.
Speaking during the handover of Ebola screening and infection prevention equipment at Entebbe International Airport, UCAA Deputy Director General Ms. Olive Lumonya revealed that several airlines had either withdrawn services or tightened travel conditions for Ugandan passengers. She noted that this comes at a time when they are under intense pressure to create confidence and trust in Uganda.
She further explained that a number of prominent airlines have pulled out, including KLM, Flydubai, and Air Arabia. Additionally, Emirates made changes regarding the conditions under which Ugandans can travel. According to aviation officials, Emirates is currently prioritizing transit passengers while limiting travel for passengers originating from Uganda, a move she said has increased pressure on government agencies and the aviation sector.
However, the aviation regulator expressed hope that ongoing engagements with health authorities and international partners would help restore confidence among airlines and foreign governments. Ms. Lumonya emphasized that they hope this confidence will enable the rest of the world, airlines, and decision-makers to make a different decision that will give Uganda fairness as they travel the world, reassuring that Entebbe International Airport is safe for all travelers.
The Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Dr. Diana Atwine, stated that hundreds of people who had been identified as contacts had successfully completed the mandatory monitoring period. She revealed that they have not registered any positive cases since the imported cases that infected some of their health workers. Health authorities had initially traced more than 800 contacts linked to confirmed Ebola cases, but they have already discharged more than 400 people who completed the 21-day monitoring period, with very few or no contacts expected to remain on the list by the end of next week.
Dr. Atwine strongly criticized the blanket travel restrictions imposed by some countries and airlines, arguing that the measures were not supported by scientific evidence or facts. She assured that the population of Uganda is very safe, as are the people who travel to Uganda and those doing business in the country. She explained that all identified contacts had either completed quarantine or continued to be closely monitored by health authorities, thereby reducing the risk of further transmission.
The latest efforts to strengthen screening at Entebbe International Airport received a boost from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which donated thermal scanners, automated hand sanitizer dispensers, and temporary isolation facilities. Ms. Jessica Healey, the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, said Washington continues to work with Uganda, the DRC, and other regional governments to contain the outbreak. She noted that more than $220 million had been mobilized through the U.S. Department of State, in close coordination with the CDC, to support Ebola preparedness, contact tracing, border screening, and community awareness programs across the region.
IOM Uganda Chief of Mission Mr. Sanusi Tejan Savage stated that the equipment would improve early detection and infection prevention measures at the country’s main international gateway. The donation included three thermal scanners, 60 automated hand sanitizer dispensers, and tents equipped with furniture for temporary isolation and assessment of suspected cases. He concluded that these facilities help health teams quickly identify and manage potential cases while ensuring airport operations continue with minimal disruption.
