PAKWACH, Uganda
Security officials in northern Uganda have arrested and deported 18 Congolese nationals who were allegedly found entering the country illegally during intensified border operations linked to Ebola prevention measures.
The operation was led by Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Achile Twaibu and carried out at the Pakwach and Olwiyo checkpoints, where security teams intercepted the group during routine surveillance exercises.
Authorities said the individuals were part of a broader enforcement effort aimed at tightening border security following the temporary closure and heightened restrictions along the Uganda–Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border. The measures were introduced in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, which has raised regional public health concerns.
According to security officials, some of the arrested individuals were found in possession of Congolese national identity cards or passports, while others reportedly had no valid travel documentation at the time of interception. After processing, the group was deported in accordance with immigration procedures.
Ugandan authorities have significantly increased surveillance at official and informal border points, citing the need to prevent potential cross-border transmission of the Ebola virus. Health and security agencies say the approach is intended to strengthen screening, early detection, and control of unauthorized movement between the two countries.
The crackdown comes amid a worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where government figures have reported 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths as of the latest update. Health officials say the outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has spread rapidly across parts of eastern DRC, prompting urgent containment efforts.
Uganda’s border districts, particularly in the West Nile and northern regions, have been placed under heightened surveillance as authorities attempt to balance disease control measures with continued cross-border trade and humanitarian movement. Uganda is also hosting one of the largest Congolese refugee populations globally, making cross-border movement both frequent and sensitive.
Health experts have repeatedly warned that porous borders between Uganda and the DRC remain a major risk factor in the regional spread of Ebola, especially in communities where residents regularly cross for trade, family visits, and livelihoods.
Authorities emphasized that enforcement operations at checkpoints will continue as part of ongoing national efforts to protect public health and prevent further spread of the virus. No injuries were reported during the operation, and officials confirmed that the deported individuals were handed over to immigration authorities.
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