By Our Reporter
Fort Portal City authorities have suspended all weekly markets as part of heightened measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, despite the city not registering any confirmed cases.
The decision was reached during an Ebola taskforce meeting chaired by the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (DRCC), Mr. Businge Emmanuel, on May 29, 2026. The move follows guidance from the Ministry of Health, which recently identified Fort Portal among Uganda’s high-risk areas due to its proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicentre of the latest Ebola outbreak.
Under the new measures, weekly markets across the city will remain suspended until further notice, while daily markets will continue operating under strict supervision to ensure compliance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
City authorities have also intensified public sensitization campaigns aimed at increasing community awareness about Ebola prevention, detection, and reporting. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and strictly observe all Ministry of Health guidelines.
Officials emphasized that the preventive measures are intended to safeguard the population and minimize the risk of transmission should the virus spread beyond affected areas.
As of May 29, Uganda had recorded nine confirmed Ebola cases and one death, according to health authorities.
