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 (SOPs) to prevent the spread of Ebola. He emphasised that Oyam is among the high-risk districts in the Lango Sub-region, serving as an entry point for travellers.

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 sanitisers. He called on residents to change their behaviour and remain vigilant, stressing that Ebola is still a threat and requires strict preventive measures.

Assistant District Health Officer, Caroline Agaro, highlighted that despite some complacency in parts of the country, 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 investigated and closed. The most significant alert involved a woman reported from Nebbi District.

District Health Educator, John Bosco Orech, criticised 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 neighbouring countries often stop. He urged drivers to report symptoms promptly for testing and medical attention.

Uganda has so far recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths as of June 29, 2026, linked to the Bundibugyo strain believed to be spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak was first confirmed on May 15, 2026, following 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 been reported.