ENFORCEMENT OF SOPs TO CONTINUE AT BORDER MARKETS DESPITE EBOLA FREE DECLARATION

Stakeholders discussing modalities of operationalizing border markets at Vurra Custom bordering DRC. (PHOTO BY EREMA)

By Erema George

Arua City

The leadership of arua district and arua city together with partners are continuously advocating for the safety of their residents from the risk of contracting Ebola virus disease from the neighboring democratic republic of Congo through contacts at the boarder markets in the districts.

Uganda declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak on July 28, 2026, after completing monitoring periods with no active local cases. However, the leaders say there’s still a risk of the disease getting to the country through the border markets;

During a meeting held at Vurra custom on Aug 9th to determine modalities of operationalizing border markets, Arua district chairperson Comas Ayikobua emphasized on the safety of the people while opening the markets;

“We want our markets open but we must open the borders safely and our approach should be, open the markets, facilitate legitimate trade but manage the health risks. We need the operational guidelines for our safe opening and management of the markets in both arua and arua city.” Ayikobua said.

He appeals to stakeholders to further strengthen the systems to better manage the situation at the border markets;

“Kampala market and Odramacaku, these are markets of high risk, they are very close to the border and these other markets like Ejupala are a little inside. If we can develop these standard operating procedures for opening, it will help us improve better. My appeal here is we need to still strengthen our systems through communication, surveillance and coordination such that we manage our situation.” Ayikobua urged.

Resolutions such as district and city task force getting into action, involvement of the community, implementation of Standard Operating Procedures as well as supervision by task forces were passed at the meeting.

The Deputy Arua Resident District Commissioner Okuayi Denis Jawoko says their aim is to make everyone take part in the process for its success.

“You cannot in anyway stop someone crossing from Congo especially those who live at the border. These are the same communities, these are relatives, somebody sleeps in Congo but owns a garden in Uganda, and somebody sleeps in Congo but comes to school in Uganda. The only thing we can do is to ensure that everybody is part of this process so part of our action point is to encourage the management of the markets to put in place the SOPs but also to mobilize the local leadership to own the process. Through these we are very sure we shall succeed,” Jawoko noted.

Meanwhile Namoma Ivan James, the arua central division deputy resident city commissioner says.

“Other than saying no crossing, we better go and manage the situation by putting there the SOPs or by telling the people to behave responsibly. If we are communicating to our people we tell them no one is going to manage Ebola but yourself.” Nawoma said.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a major Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, with over 4,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,900 deaths reported since mid-May 2026.

This leaves Uganda at high risk especially at the border markets such as Kampala and Ejupala markets in Arua district and Odramacaku market in Arua city.