By Karim Were
As concerns over the Ebola outbreak continue to grow, authorities in Fort Portal have intensified enforcement of health and safety measures across markets and trading centers to prevent a potential spread of the disease.
Leading the operation, DRCC Businge Emmanuel, accompanied by security personnel and health teams, conducted inspections to ensure strict adherence to Ebola Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following the suspension of weekly markets.
At trading centers that remain operational, mandatory temperature screening and handwashing stations have been established. Vendors found operating without face masks or proper hygiene facilities are being denied access to market spaces.
Security operatives have also stepped up crowd management efforts, dispersing unnecessary gatherings and regulating the number of customers allowed into shops at a time to minimize congestion.
Alongside enforcement, health officials are conducting awareness campaigns to educate traders and residents about Ebola symptoms, the importance of early reporting, safe burial practices, and avoiding contact with suspected cases.
Authorities further reminded the public that the sale and consumption of bush meat, as well as any direct contact with dead bodies outside approved health procedures, remain strictly prohibited under existing Ebola prevention directives.
Speaking during the exercise, DRCC Businge Emmanuel stressed the importance of collective responsibility in preventing transmission.
“We suspended weekly markets to reduce the risk of spread. The daily markets that remain open must operate under strict health guidelines. Compliance is not optional—it is essential for protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said.
The intensified measures come amid growing regional concerns after health authorities warned that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is expanding rapidly, increasing the need for vigilance in neighboring communities.
Residents and traders have been urged to immediately report any suspected Ebola cases to the nearest health facility or the District Surveillance Officer, emphasizing that prompt reporting and response remain critical in containing the disease.
This version shifts the focus from the individual official to the broader public health response and community protection effort.
