Arua hotels under scrutiny after Ebola cases traced through city

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Hotel owners in Arua city have come under increased scrutiny after health authorities revealed that several recent Ebola cases from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) passed through the city before being detected.

During a meeting of the Arua City Ebola Task Force on June 8, 2026, stakeholders raised concerns that some hotels were accommodating visitors from high-risk areas without notifying health authorities or adhering to established surveillance guidelines.

Arua city surveillance officer Geoffrey Adiga disclosed that some confirmed Ebola cases linked to Uganda stayed in hotels within the city after crossing through the porous border with the DRC.

He said some hotel managers initially denied hosting the visitors until security footage confirmed their presence.



Meanwhile, Arua city resident city commissioner Betty Akello Otekat revealed that at least 11 hotels currently have Congolese nationals booked for extended stays, with some remaining for weeks or even months.

She said security agencies and health teams would begin round-the-clock inspections to professionally screen guests and strengthen surveillance efforts.



Col. Loti Dradria Osutre, the Operation Wealth Creation coordinator for Arua city, expressed concern over continued cross-border business activities, which he said were facilitating illegal movement across the border.



The task force has urged hotel operators, business owners and the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities as Arua city strengthens its Ebola preparedness and response measures.