Mourners travelling from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to attend the burial of Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV have been restricted from entering Uganda as health authorities tighten measures to prevent the reintroduction of Ebola into the country.
King Oyo, who died on August 27, will be buried on Saturday, September 12. Thousands of people, including officials from government and foreign dignitaries, are expected to attend the event in Fort Portal City.
The Ministry of Health issued a public health advisory dated September 4, following the announcement of the death of King Oyo.
This was after concerns were raised that his burial could attract mourners from eastern DRC, which is still battling Ebola.
‘No mourners from eastern DRC shall be permitted to travel to attend the burial ceremony of His Royal Highness. The Uganda-DRC border remains closed, and travel remains restricted,’ the advisory stated.
The ministry said the decision was necessary because, although Uganda was recently declared Ebola-free, health authorities were continuing to monitor the high transmission of Ebola in provinces of eastern DRC.
The ministry, however, said subjects of the late king in DRC and elsewhere would be able to follow the burial proceedings virtually through an official online link that will be shared through government communication channels.
‘All points of entry and security agencies are directed to remain vigilant, strengthen border surveillance and report any persons who attempt to enter the country illegally during the border closure,’ the advisory states.
Despite the ban, a delegation led by Queen (Omugo) Dorothy Bacwenkojo Kiiza of Mitego Kingdom (Ituri, DRC) arrived at Karuziika Palace on Monday afternoon, representing King Rutahaba Albert Ibanda Kituku II, to pay tribute to the late Oyo and deliver condolences to the Tooro Kingdom. The delegation also brought cows as a gesture of condolence.
At the palace entrance, mourners are screened by a Red Cross team, which checks their temperature and sanitises them as they enter the palace.
On Monday, health officials from Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions and the Ministry of Health were in Fort Portal reviewing how districts performed during the Ebola outbreaks. They recommended that border districts need extra support in response to outbreaks.
Dr Richard Mugahi from the Ministry of Health said the advisory needs to be followed and that they have already informed the kingdom to prevent DRC delegations from coming for burial because it poses a great risk to mourners.
‘Our surveillance team across the Uganda-DRC border has been alerted and will not allow any Congolese to cross into Uganda. We ask those from DRC to take this issue seriously,’ he said.
Regarding the delegation from DRC that went to the palace, Dr Mugahi said after learning of the news, all those who came were later screened. None had signs or symptoms of Ebola, but they will all remain under active surveillance.
‘We have put in place control measures that these people will follow. Every day, we take their temperature and we know where they are sleeping. We have been informed that a number of them were leaving around Fort Portal. Only a few [herdsmen] who came with cows crossed from DRC,’ he said.
Ebola threat
Uganda declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak on July 28 after completing the internationally recommended 42-day period without detecting a new confirmed case.
The country’s last confirmed Ebola patient was discharged on July 16, triggering the 42-day countdown.
The outbreak had been declared on May 15. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the Ugandan outbreak was epidemiologically linked to transmission originating in the DRC.