Sex Workers in Border Towns Told to Suspend Activities Over Ebola

By Skika Reporter.
Health authorities in Uganda have urged sex workers operating in border towns to temporarily suspend their activities as Uganda and Kenya heighten Ebola surveillance following renewed outbreaks in the region, including eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where about 135 people have reportedly died.

Officials say high-risk groups in busy trading centres remain particularly vulnerable because of the constant movement of long-distance truck drivers along regional transport corridors.

Speaking in Bukaya, Njeru Municipality, Buikwe Assistant Resident District Commissioner Richard Chris Kakwezi warned that Ebola spreads rapidly through direct bodily contact, placing sex workers at increased risk if preventive measures are ignored.

“We advise you to be vigilant because these truck drivers might carry the Ebola virus into Uganda, and the most at-risk group is prostitutes,” Kakwezi said.

He explained that Ebola transmission occurs through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, contaminated objects, and infected animals such as bats.

“Sexual activity, especially with an infected person, can accelerate the spread of the virus,” he added.

Kakwezi emphasized that Ebola is not airborne and urged the public to follow preventive measures, including regular handwashing with soap or sanitiser, avoiding physical contact with suspected cases, proper use of protective equipment, and immediate reporting of suspected infections to health authorities.

Meanwhile, Uganda and Kenya have intensified Ebola surveillance at the Busia and Malaba border points by introducing enhanced screening procedures to curb possible cross-border transmission.

Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera said the two countries are closely coordinating their response efforts through information sharing and joint surveillance initiatives.

“Disease outbreaks do not respect borders, and as Kenya, we cannot single-handedly manage this epidemic without the involvement of Uganda,” Odera said.

Odera, who also serves as the County Executive Committee Member for Health in Busia County, noted that health teams are screening travellers by checking temperatures, reviewing travel history, and monitoring possible symptoms while also enforcing hygiene measures at border crossings.

Authorities in both countries have also intensified public awareness campaigns, encouraging communities to remain vigilant, report suspected cases early, and strictly observe Ebola prevention guidelines as monitoring continues at major entry points.