ALERT: Ebola Response Activated in Oyam District

1 July 2026, 8:03 am

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Oyam District Assistant Resident District Commissioner Ayub Tenywa has urged the community and stakeholders to strictly observe Standard Operating Procedures to prevent the spread of Ebola. He emphasized that Oyam is among the high‑risk districts in the Lango Sub‑region, serving as an entry point for foreigners.

Speaking during the first District Task Force meeting on Ebola Virus Disease response at the Oyam District Health Boardroom, Tenywa noted that many public places such as schools, churches, and markets lack hand‑washing facilities and sanitizers. He called on residents to change their behavior and remain vigilant, stressing that Ebola is still present and requires strict protection measures.

Assistant District Health Officer Carolin Agaro highlighted that despite laxity in some parts of Uganda, Oyam must remain alert due to its location along the highway. She revealed that the health department has responded to four Ebola alerts, all of which were verified and closed. The most significant alert involved a woman reported from Nebbi District.

District Health Educator John Bosco Orech criticized some health facilities in Oyam for operating without hand‑washing facilities, exposing health workers to the deadly Bundibugyo Ebola virus.

Norman Asiko, an epidemiology officer from Lira Regional Referral Hospital, warned that Oyam is particularly vulnerable due to Kamdini and Loro town councils, where truck drivers from abroad often stop. He urged drivers to report symptoms promptly for testing and medical assistance.

Uganda has so far recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases and 2 deaths as of June 29, 2026, linked to the Bundibugyo strain spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak was first confirmed on May 15, 2026, after the death of a 59‑year‑old Congolese man in Kampala. Surveillance and contact tracing have been intensified, especially in Kampala and Wakiso, where secondary transmission has occurred.