Uganda closed its western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 28, implementing strict measures to prevent the spread of Ebola that has left traders facing substantial financial losses as cargo sits stranded at border crossings.

The closure came approximately two weeks after Congo declared an Ebola outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, with the current outbreak suspected to have infected over 1,000 people. Uganda has confirmed 15 cases linked to the neighboring country's outbreak, all involving Congolese nationals who sought treatment in Kampala before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15.

At the Mpondwe border post, Uganda's primary crossing for informal trade valued at an estimated $131 million in 2023, trucks loaded with perishable goods including plantain and fish imports stretch over a mile in queues. Trader Leah Masika faces potential losses of $2,200 worth of plantain cargo that was beginning to spoil while awaiting clearance. Clearing agent Sylvia Asiimwe pointed to trucks carrying fish destined for Congolese cities in North Kivu province, which is separate from the Ebola epicenter in Ituri.

Ugandan authorities have tightened restrictions in recent days as the outbreak appears to be spreading faster than the response efforts. Arafat Bwambale, a surveillance officer for the Kasese district, defended the measures as necessary to prevent movement of people along with cargo, noting that officials are working to block crossings through more than two dozen informal footpaths along the border.

The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which existing vaccines and treatments are ineffective, making containment efforts more challenging. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern while discouraging border closures, though acknowledging that neighboring countries face high risk of contagion.

Local economic impacts are evident throughout the border region, with shops closed and workers without employment. The border area serves communities with kinship ties across both countries, and authorities indicated that further restrictions on cargo movement are being considered despite the economic hardship for traders who depend on cross-border commerce.