DRC-Uganda Travel Ban: North Kivu Expresses Concern

A week-long suspension of flights and cross-border transport between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has sparked serious concern in North Kivu province. Ugandan authorities imposed the measures to combat the ongoing Ebola epidemic affecting both nations, halting all air travel and restricting passenger transport via buses and ferries.

The decision has deeply worried economic operators, travelers, and patients in Beni, Butembo, and Lubero. Many businesses in eastern DRC use Uganda's Entebbe Airport as a crucial transit hub for international trade, particularly for goods destined for Asia and Europe. The flight suspension threatens to disrupt commercial activities and cross-border exchanges.

Access to healthcare is another major concern. Eastern DRC's limited specialized hospital infrastructure forces many patients to seek medical treatment in Uganda. The restrictions now impede their ability to receive necessary care.

Polycarpe Ndivito, president of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) in Butembo-Lubero, highlighted the significant economic impact. "There is increased movement between the DRC and Uganda in search of all consumer products," he stated, noting that flights from Uganda are essential for importing goods. He urged for measures that combat the epidemic without completely blocking essential trade and movement.

Currently, Ugandan authorities permit only the transport of goods, including food, between the two countries. Economic actors are calling for a balanced approach, implementing effective epidemic control while preserving vital trade and population mobility.

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There is increased movement between the DRC and Uganda in search of all consumer products. We move every morning to Uganda. They have added the blocking of flights, when it is from Uganda that we take flights to go either to Asia or to Europe for the import of consumer goods. There is an urgent need to implement measures that will help us curb the epidemic first instead of blocking.