Canada has extended its travel restrictions imposed on Uganda and the neighbouring countries in the wake of an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo disease in May. In a latest statement, Canada says they remain deeply concerned about the ongoing outbreak in DRC and has therefore extended restrictions first issued at the end of May to 27 November 2026.
“Canada remains deeply concerned about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the evolving risk of Ebola disease in neighbouring countries, including Uganda and South Sudan. To continue preventing the spread of Ebola in Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended its temporary immigration measures for 60 days, until November 27, 2026”, the statement reads in part.
The statement was released more than a month after the World Health Organisation declared Uganda Ebola-free after the country completed 42 days without a positive case on 26 August 2026.
Now, according to the extended measures, immigration documents remain suspended for residents of countries with a high or very high risk of Ebola disease outbreak, including DRC, which has so far recorded 7890 confirmed cases and 3799 deaths due to the viral disease, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Also, information in the document shows that people whose last country of residence at the time of their application was one of three countries cannot travel to Canada at this time, and the halt applies even if they have a previously approved visa, permit, or electronic travel authorization.
However, authorities in Uganda have previously protested these travel bans, pointing out that the country is being unfairly bundled with DRC, and yet their outbreak mainly comprised cases of medical tourism which had been handled safely without affecting the population locally.
Uganda recorded 20 cases in the outbreak, whereby 15 were Congolese nationals, and the five were healthcare workers who cared for them and a driver. Two of the cases succumbed to complications. World Health Organisation Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has come out to condemn such travel restrictions, saying they are not informed by science and yet hurt economies-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
