The appeal was made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday, June 8, during his official visit to Uganda to assess the ongoing response to the Ebola.

Speaking during a tour of an Ebola isolation facility at a hospital in Kampala, Dr. Tedros emphasized that imposing general travel bans or sanctions is counterproductive to managing health crises.

"That is why I hope Ugandan authorities will reconsider this decision," Dr. Tedros said.

Dr. Tedros stated that the current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain, represents a public health issue of international concern.

The Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, stated that the country remains committed to supporting the DRC in eradicating the virus, while reassuring the public that Uganda’s domestic health situation remains secure.

The epicenter of the outbreak is located in Ituri Province in eastern DRC, where the virus was first detected.

According to data from the DRC Ministry of Health, 515 cases of the virus had been confirmed as of June 6, resulting in 91 deaths. Meanwhile, Uganda has registered 19 confirmed Ebola cases, 14 of which originated from individuals arriving from the DRC.

Uganda closed all points of entry along its border with the DRC on May 21, 2026, as a strict measure to curb the cross-border transmission of the disease.