Are you a Ugandan working abroad or looking to travel beyond national borders? If so, you might already be facing the disruptions of the Ebola scare, even though Uganda is not the current epicenter.
Following the recent Ebola outbreak concentrated in the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda remains on high alert.
According to the World Health Organisation, the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Going by Ministry of Health data, there are 9 confirmed cases and one reported death in Uganda as of June 1.
The vast majority of these infections are contained in the Kasese and Ntoroko districts near the DRC border, with only a single imported case detected at a hospital in Kampala.
Despite the isolated nature of the Ugandan cases, it has triggered concerns and global responses.
The WHO has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), prompting increased screening at Entebbe and land borders.
Strict measures
Several countries have issued travel advisories or implemented entry restrictions for travelers from Uganda due to the ongoing Ebola (Bundibugyo) outbreak.
Last week, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory for the country. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security also implemented enhanced screening and restricted all U.S.-bound travelers who have recently been in Uganda to specific designated airports.
Similarly, the Indian government issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Uganda and implemented enhanced screenings at major airports.
Canada and The Bahamas have temporarily suspended entry for individuals arriving from outbreak-affected areas in Uganda.
Meanwhile, entry to Jordan and Bahrain, both Gulf countries, where more than 200,000 Ugandan migrant workers earn their livelihoods, has been temporarily suspended for certain travelers arriving from affected African nations.
In Oman, another Gulf nation with a significant Ugandan workforce, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority released directives requiring airlines and travelers to strictly comply with precautionary health measures regarding travel to and from Uganda.
Furthermore, Taiwan’s foreign ministry issued red travel warnings, urging the public to avoid traveling to the region. As a result of these sweeping travel restrictions, Uganda’s labour externalization, tourism industry, and supply and logistics chains are expected to temporarily take a hit until the situation normalizes.
Impact
Speaking to Nation Media Group on Thursday, the head of public relations at the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Mr Simplicious Gessa, noted that the impact on the tourism industry, though still in its early stages, is already hurting.
He cited the Level 4 travel advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State-the highest level of warning-which indicates a high likelihood of life-threatening risks such as active conflict, widespread crime, severe disease outbreaks, or terrorism.
‘Because of that, we have registered several cancellations from certain markets, such as the U.S., which has gone ahead to issue a travel ban,’ Mr Gessa said.
‘Such advisories heavily affect our business here. They cause a lot of cancellations, and indeed, the impact is already felt within our tourism circles.’
He continued: ‘The damage will not only be felt in gorilla tracking permits, but also in the overall number of tourists and travelers coming into the country.’
Amidst these challenges, Mr Gessa stressed that Uganda is not the epicenter of the disease, and as a result, business continues as usual.
‘People must know that Uganda is actually safe,’ he said. ‘We are open and welcoming to every traveler coming to this country.’
Billions in losses
In another interview, the chief executive officer of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Ms Jean Byamugisha, told NMGU that since last week, hotels have been getting cancellations amounting to billions of shillings, reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic days.
We have been on an upward trajectory. We’ve just hosted a very successful Pearl of Africa Expo. We have been bidding for more conferences and events. People have been acknowledging Uganda, and more inquiries have been made.
‘Now, all the work we have been doing in the past has evaporated because of this news about Ebola.
‘People who are supposed to go to the UK for a conference and all that have had their visas canceled because of Ebola.
‘I also think it’s because the virus is referred to as ‘Bundibugyo.’ So, when people Google the name and it brings them to, say, Uganda, they avoid the country. So, we are taking a greater hit than the DRC, or even Rwanda, which is much closer to the DRC.’
Economic shockwaves of Ebola on businesses
Ebola virus outbreaks harm businesses primarily through reduced economic activity, localised mobility restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and mass consumer aversion (fear of infection). According to the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) in Uganda, such epidemics spike the cost of doing business while severely depressing both domestic and international market demand.
The specific effects of Ebola on the commercial landscape include:
The hospitality collapse
Cancellations: News of outbreaks often triggers panic, leading to a steep drop in international arrivals. Tour operators and hotels in Uganda have historically faced massive cancellation rates of up to 40 percent as foreign travelers avoid affected regions.
Revenue losses: Occupancy rates and restaurant dining volumes plummet, forcing the services sector into below-potential performance.
Supply chain disruptions
Border restrictions: Quarantine measures and regional border closures (such as those between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) significantly slow down cross-border trade.
Input costs: The cost of doing business spikes. Companies face higher operational expenses due to mandatory investments in health and safety compliance (for example disposable masks, hand sanitisers, and temperature scanners).
Labour and productivity
Workforce reductions: Mobility restrictions, localised lockdowns, and illness cause labour shortages.
Rising demands: Employees often demand higher compensation to justify the risk of working during an epidemic, exacerbating production costs for businesses.
Sector-specific shocks
Agriculture and markets: Fear-driven behaviours extend to the agricultural sector. For instance, outbreaks have previously caused sharp declines in the sales and slaughter rates of livestock (such as pigs), disrupting livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas.
Businesses adapt by scaling up digital integration and relying heavily on government and health awareness campaigns to reassure customers that operations are safe.