Adjumani and Amuru districts unite at Elegu border to tighten Ebola

The Ebola District Task Forces of Adjumani and Amuru districts have strengthened cross-border collaboration following a joint meeting held at the Elegu border point in Amuru district.

The June 29 meeting aimed at reinforcing the implementation of the government’s directive which suspended the reception of new asylum seekers into Uganda.

The meeting brought together district leaders, surveillance teams, security officials and members of the Ebola District Task Forces from both districts to develop a coordinated approach towards implementing the directive issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

The joint engagement comes at a time when Uganda continues to heighten surveillance following the declaration of Ebola as a public health emergency in the region, with border districts remaining on high alert because of the constant movement of people across porous border points.

Chairing the meeting, the Resident District Commissioner of Amuru, Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, said the two districts found it necessary to work together following the government’s suspension on receiving new asylum seekers.

“This is a joint task force meeting. We thought with Adjumani district that it is important we sit together since the Prime Minister’s Office issued a suspension for us not to receive asylum seekers to this country.

“Our location alone is a health risk to this country because we have a lot of porous borders and each and every time, we have a lot of people entering the country through our porous borders.”

The Amuru RDC added the two districts agreed that joint planning was necessary to ensure the directive is implemented effectively while protecting communities from the possible spread of Ebola.

“So, we needed to sit down I’m coming up with strategies together and also we had over 47 people.”

Health surveillance teams from both districts also presented updates on the Ebola situation within their respective jurisdictions, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring despite the absence of confirmed cases.

Amuru district surveillance focal person, Onekawi Robert, said the district has continued to investigate all suspected Ebola cases since the outbreak was declared in Uganda.

“As Amuru, from the day Ebola was declared in Uganda, we have had about nine suspects. Out of the nine, we have verified all. We have received eight results from the nine suspected cases. Out of the nine, two were from dead bodies.”

He noted that all the suspected cases have originated from Elegu town council, making the border town a key focus area for surveillance activities.

On the Adjumani side, district surveillance focal person Oyomu Paul said the district remains among Uganda’s high-risk areas because of its location along the international border and the presence of refugee settlements.

“As for Adjumani, being a cross-border district and also hosting refugees, it has the risk and that is why in the Ebola response, we have been categorised among the high-risk districts.”

He said the district task force has remained active through regular meetings although implementation of agreed actions still requires improvement.

Oyomu further revealed that six suspected Ebola cases have so far been investigated in Adjumani, with laboratory findings providing reassurance.

“A little bit low. We have detected six suspected cases out of which one did not meet the case definition. Death case, but due to alcohol intoxication. The other five who were not death cases, we have received results for the four and all are negative.”

The Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Adjumani, Apio Sharon Ruth Baru, urged all agencies operating at the border to remain vigilant, noting that the continued movement of people from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo poses a significant public health concern.

She added that many Congolese nationals continue to cross into Uganda seeking medical services, making strict surveillance measures essential.

“And we understand currently, most of the people from Congo come to Uganda to seek health care. So, that means we have to be more vigilant.”

The leaders expressed optimism that the strengthened collaboration between the two neighbouring districts will improve information sharing, enhance surveillance at the border and ensure a coordinated response against any potential Ebola threat.