Africa's top public health agency, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has urged the United States to lift travel restrictions imposed on Uganda due to the Ebola outbreak. The agency argues that Uganda has successfully brought the outbreak under control.
Speaking at the African Union health summit in Ghana, Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya stated that Uganda's response to the Ebola virus has been effective, with no new cases reported in recent weeks. He emphasized that continued travel restrictions are unnecessary and hinder economic recovery and regional cooperation.
The United States imposed travel restrictions on Uganda in late 2022 following the declaration of an Ebola outbreak in the country. The restrictions included enhanced screening for travelers from Uganda and advisories against non-essential travel. However, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak over in January 2023 after 42 days without a new case.
Despite the end of the outbreak, some US restrictions remained in place, prompting criticism from African health officials. The Africa CDC's call is part of broader efforts to ensure that travel measures are based on scientific evidence and do not unfairly target African nations.
As of July 2026, no new Ebola cases have been reported in Uganda since the outbreak was declared over. The Africa CDC continues to monitor the situation and supports Uganda's health system to prevent future outbreaks.
