UCC cancels Arua event over Ebola

Jun 21, 2019

Government advised all entities in the country to suspend mass gatherings near the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border communities.

KAMPALA - Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) says it is calling off this year's Communication Consumer Parliament because of an Ebola outbreak in the country.

The event was slated for June 28 in Arua district. However, the regulator said on Thursday that the event cannot go on following a government advisory requiring all entities in the country to suspend mass gatherings near the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border communities.

"We regret any inconvenience the change might have caused," UCC noted in a statement, adding that a later date will be communicated.

Since 2014, the UCC has held an annual Communications Consumer Parliament. The platform facilitates interaction between consumers and service providers of communication services and products.

The Ebola outbreak was confirmed in Uganda on June 11 after a five-year-old boy, who had travelled with his family to DRC tested positive for the disease, and died a day later.

Two other members of the family, a grandmother, and three-year-old brother also tested positive for Ebola on June 12 and the grandmother died later the same day. The three-year-old brother also died on June 13.

Later, the Health ministry together with its partners and World Health Organisation agreed to strengthen surveillance, information sharing, begin vaccinations and repatriate to the DRC the remaining six family members who crossed into Uganda.

According to the latest situation update by the Health ministry, there is no confirmed Ebola virus case in Uganda.

However, the ministry said two suspect cases are admitted at Bwera Ebola Treatment Unit. Ninety-two contacts are being followed up according to the ministry.

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