Health

Amuru, Adjumani strengthen Ebola response at Elegu border

"As two districts, we don't share only borders but also markets and families, which means an outbreak in one poses risk to the other, we have to work hard to ensure that we don't have any entry of a suspected case," said Apio.

Amuru district has so far recorded nine suspected Ebola cases, while Adjumani has registered one suspected case since the outbreak. (Photos by Tasia Doreen)
By: Doreen Tasia, Journalist @New Vision

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Members of the Ebola task forces from Amuru and Adjumani districts have held a joint meeting to strengthen surveillance, emergency response, coordination and preparedness measures at the Elegu border crossing.

The meeting, held June 30, 2026, at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) clearance office in Elegu, focused on enhancing cross-border screening and improving preparedness to prevent the spread of Ebola through one of Uganda's busiest entry points.

Apio Sharon Baru, the chairperson of the Adjumani district ebola task force, said the two districts remain at risk as long as the border remains open.

"As two districts, we don't share only borders but also markets and families, which means an outbreak in one poses risk to the other, we have to work hard to ensure that we don't have any entry of a suspected case," said Apio.

 



Amuru resident district commissioner Geoffrey Osborne Oceng called for heightened vigilance in both districts because of frequent movement through porous border points, particularly by refugees.

"For us a border districts we are aware that most of our cases are imported and that's why there is need to be extra careful because of the porous border movements among the refugees."

The committee resolved to meet every two weeks to review preparedness and response efforts.

Amuru LC5 chairperson Christopher Odongkara called for continued cooperation between the two districts to strengthen the fight against Ebola.

"There is still a lot of laxity in implementation of the Ebola standard operating procedures, we should continue working together collaboratively to address this in the two districts and the borders," Odongkara stated.

Amuru district has so far recorded nine suspected Ebola cases, while Adjumani has registered one suspected case since the outbreak.

The task forces also resolved to enhance training for security personnel and health workers at border points, strengthen immunisation at the borders, increase the provision of information, education and communication materials, and have Amuru district provide additional human resources to support port health services.

In the latest outbreak affecting eastern DRC, Uganda has reported 20 Ebola cases and two deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Fifteen of the cases were imported, while only three patients remain under treatment.

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