The Ministry of Health says mourners from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are not to attend the burial of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV of Tooro. An advisory by the Ministry comes as Tooro prepares to host thousands of mourners expected to attend the burial of the 31-year-old king, who died after battling a rare form of brain cancer.
Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, said the ministry anticipated a large influx of mourners, including subjects of the Tooro Kingdom living in eastern DRC, where an Ebola outbreak is ongoing. The King will be laid to rest on September 12 at Karambi Royal Tombs.
However, ever since his body touched down at Entebbe Airport on Friday, it has been welcomed by crowds both along the route to and at the palace in Fort Portal City.
Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomire has told URN that they expect an influx of mourners from across the world, including Kings from Nigeria, DRC and Eswatini, who have already communicated their intention to attend the burial. However, according to the advisory by the Health Ministry, no mourners from Eastern DRC will be permitted to travel.
“The Uganda – DRC border remains closed and travel, remains restricted”, the document reads, with details showing that an official link will be provided through the Government of Uganda channels to enable subjects of the departed king in the DRC and elsewhere to follow burial proceedings virtually.
Meanwhile, Uganda currently has no active cases of Ebola. The country was declared Ebola-free weeks ago by the World Health Organization, having completed 42 days without recording a new case. The country recorded twenty cases in an outbreak announced in May. This outbreak started with an imported case from DRC, which was treated at a private hospital in Kampala. Olaro says that, even without an active case, the country remains under active surveillance to stop another spillover from happening-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
