In a bid to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola disease in Uganda, President Museveni has imposed a travel ban to and from the high risk districts of Mubende and Kassanda in the central region.
“Movements into and out of Mubende and Kassanda Districts are prohibited,” said Museveni on Saturday night.
“Movement from Kassanda to Mubende and vice versa is prohibited,” he added.
The president further directed that “there will be curfew in Mubende and Kassanda Districts starting from 7:00pm to 6:00am.”
The development comes at a time when the government and international health organizations are working around the clock to stem the spread of the Ebola virus which has so far claimed 58 lives.
The high risk areas are Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kassanda, Kagadi and Bunyangabu.
“We now have 58 total confirmed cases and 19 deaths. So far, 20 people have recovered from Ebola,” said Museveni.
The President said Ebola greatly affects the economy and the tourism industry, adding that he had directed a full mobilization of Kampala city into a response mode after two cases from Mubende district tested positive in the country’s capital.
“If not adequately controlled, Ebola may spread beyond Uganda,” he emphasized,
“These are temporary measures to control the spread of Ebola. We should all cooperate with the authorities so that we bring this outbreak to an end in the shortest time possible.”
The president disclosed that people in the high risk areas were hijacking dead bodies and moving from district to district including coming to Kampala City.
“This movement and deceit has not changed and the risk of spreading Ebola to other parts of the country remains very high. Ebola, as you know, is highly infectious and deadly…Ebola cases have continued to increase in the communities of Mubende and Kassanda districts.”
He said there was a lot of movement in the affected districts for mining purposes, family relationships, culture and traditions. People also move out of these districts to seek treatment from traditional healers and witch doctors which has led to the spread of Ebola to other districts i.e. Kyegegwa, Kagadi and Bunyangabu.
“Given the gravity of the problem and to prevent further spread and protect lives and livelihoods, the Government is taking extra measures that require action from all of us. All these measures shall start with immediate effect and will last 21 days because the incubation period for Ebola is up to 21 days,” said Museveni.
In regards to essential health services, Museveni said ambulances, vans and medicines have been deployed to support continuity of other health services.
“Those who are sick should use the ambulances to access the hospitals and health workers should use the vans,” said Museveni.
Below are the president’s directives in the high risk area:-
- Movements into and out of Mubende and Kassanda Districts are prohibited.
- Movement from Kassanda to Mubende and vice versa is prohibited.
- There will be Curfew in Mubende and Kassanda Districts starting from 7:00pm to 6:00am.
- Movement of persons within their respective district (Mubende and Kassanda) is allowed.
- Public transport, private transport and Boda-bodas are NOT permitted to move.
- ONLY Cargo vehicles, vehicles supporting the response to Ebola outbreak, authorized Government vehicles and Security vehicles are permitted to move BUT SHALL NOT TAKE PEOPLE IN OR OUT OF MUBENDE AND KASSANDA.
- Transit vehicles (public and private) crossing through Mubende and Kassanda Districts are permitted to move but with police clearance and shall NOT STOP TO PICK OR DROP PEOPLE.
- Cargo trucks with only a driver and one turn-boy shall be allowed to deliver goods and may carry goods out of the districts but shall not carry passengers.
- All cargo shall be delivered to the districts of Mubende and Kassanda during the day. Cargo vehicles shall be required to leave by 5:00pm and the operators will not sleep in any of the two districts. Anyone who sleeps in the districts shall remain there for 21 days.
- All seasonal markets (butale bw’ Omubuulo) are suspended.
- The Mines in Mubende will remain open for people in Mubende and the mines in Kassanda will remain open for the people in Kassanda. No crossing over. In addition, daily temperature checks, hand washing and symptom screening must be enforced by the proprietors.
SCHOOLS
- Schools should remain open and learners should be allowed to move when in school uniform. Temperature of all learners, teachers and non teaching staff should be monitored on a daily basis.
- Any School absence must be reported immediately to the response teams and investigated.
- All children, teachers and non-teaching staff who have had contact with a person who has signs and symptoms of Ebola should not go to school.
- All places of worship shall be closed.
- All bars, places of entertainment, bibanda, bidandali, gyms, and saunas shall be closed.
OTHER INTERVENTIONS
- All burials (whether Ebola or not) shall be conducted by Safe Burial Teams during this period. Samples will be taken from all dead bodies and tested for Ebola.
- Government should intensify public health awareness after fully understanding community issues, culture and traditions.
- The Ministry of Health must intensify surveillance and contact tracing in the two districts to pick out all possible cases.
- Enforce hand washing/sanitizing using alcohol hand rub in both districts.
- The Ministry of Health will secure and deploy twenty (20) ambulances from various districts and Regional Referral Hospitals to the two districts for continuity of essential health services.
- The Ministry of Health will mobilize and deploy 10 vans for transportation of health workers in the two districts.
- Health workers with vehicles shall be given permits by the RDCs to move only within their districts.
- The Ministry of Health will provide PPEs to all registered health facilities (private and public) in the two districts.
