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The Netherlands stands with the UK, US, Canada, France and others in imposing heightened travel measures affecting East African tourism as Uganda, DRC and South Sudan face highest-level travel alerts linked to health and security concerns. The restrictions are driven by health restrictions, quarantine rules, border risks, airline controls and tourism disruptions during Uganda’s critical 42-day virus-free countdown, as governments balance traveller safety with the region’s efforts to restore confidence after the Ebola outbreak.
Uganda is facing several layers of international travel measures following the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. However, these measures must not be treated as one single category.
They include:
Ugandan officials have stated that 15 countries maintain partial or full restrictions, but neither the Ugandan government nor the reports carrying that figure have published a complete, verifiable list of all 15 countries. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to present an assumed list as confirmed.
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The following report covers measures that can be verified through official government sources.
Several statements in the supplied text are not consistent with the latest official advisories:
| Country or authority | Uganda-wide travel advice | Highest Uganda-specific warning | Ebola-related entry measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Level 4: Do Not Travel | Entire country | Entry controls for some recent travellers |
| Canada | Avoid non-essential travel | Avoid all travel within 50 km of South Sudan border | Mandatory 21-day quarantine |
| Australia | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel within 50 km of South Sudan border | Warns of restrictions imposed by transit countries |
| United Kingdom | No blanket warning against Uganda | Regional caution rather than a formal Uganda no-travel zone | Possible health screening |
| France | Heightened vigilance | Strong warning for DRC and South Sudan border areas | No general French entry ban identified |
| Netherlands | Mainly yellow or orange regional advice | Do not travel close to the DRC border | Ebola health warning |
| European Union | No collective tourism ban | National advisories vary | EU assessment opposed routine entry screening |
| Saudi Arabia | National advice varies | Not primarily an outbound advisory | Entry suspended for travellers from Uganda |
| Jordan | National advice varies | Not primarily an outbound advisory | Temporary entry ban for arrivals from Uganda |
The Netherlands has updated its Uganda travel advice to include the Ebola emergency.
Dutch authorities say the outbreak was declared an international health emergency on 17 May 2026 and that cases were confirmed in Kampala.
The Dutch advisory tells travellers not to visit areas along the DRC border. It also notes that the Uganda–DRC border has been closed because of the outbreak.
The rest of Uganda is generally treated under differentiated yellow or orange advice depending on the location and risk level.
The main concerns are:
The Netherlands has not announced a general prohibition on Dutch citizens visiting Kampala, Entebbe or Uganda’s principal tourism corridors.
The United States has adopted the strongest verified nationwide advisory among the governments reviewed.
The US State Department raised Uganda to Level 4: Do Not Travel on 4 June 2026. The warning covers the entire country and cites four principal risks:
The State Department says the Ebola outbreak has reduced the US government’s ability to provide emergency consular services. It also notes that Uganda temporarily restricted crossings from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and imposed controls on mass gatherings in Kampala and high-risk border districts.
The US advisory highlights:
The warning also draws attention to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act and the possibility of severe criminal penalties, harassment and violence against people perceived to be LGBTQ+.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced temporary controls for people recently present in Ebola-affected countries.
The CDC states that US entry is temporarily restricted for all recent travellers from the DRC and for certain travellers recently present in Uganda or South Sudan. Travellers leaving affected areas must monitor their health for 21 days.
This is separate from the State Department advisory. One governs whether Americans should travel to Uganda, while the other governs entry into the United States after possible exposure.
Canada currently advises its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Uganda.
The reasons are:
This is a stronger nationwide warning than “exercise a high degree of caution”. It means Canadians should reconsider holidays and other discretionary travel, although essential travel is not prohibited.
Canada applies its highest warning to areas within 50 kilometres of Uganda’s border with South Sudan because of:
The warning includes an exception for visits to national parks when travellers are accompanied by a reputable guide and use established roads.
Canada does not place the entire Uganda–DRC border under its formal “avoid all travel” classification on the published Uganda page.
However, it warns that:
Canada warns of tribal clashes and banditry in Karamoja, especially north of Lake Kyoga. Western Uganda also carries a history of interethnic violence.
Canada has imposed one of the strictest verified entry regimes.
From 30 May to 29 August 2026, travellers who were in Uganda, the DRC or South Sudan during the preceding 21 days are subject to special measures.
Asymptomatic travellers must:
Anyone displaying possible Ebola symptoms on arrival is subject to medical assessment and isolation.
Australia advises its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Uganda.
The reasons include:
Australia’s advice, updated on 6 July 2026, also reports confirmed Marburg virus disease cases in Kyegegwa District in western Uganda. It warns that people leaving Uganda may face entry restrictions, quarantine or enhanced health screening in other countries.
Australia says travellers should not enter areas within 50 kilometres of the South Sudan border because of:
This is Australia’s highest Uganda-specific warning.
Australia advises travellers to reconsider visiting areas within 50 kilometres of the DRC border, including areas north and south of Lake Albert.
The risks include:
This is not formally classified as “do not travel” in the current Australian advisory.
Australia warns against tours that cross from Uganda into the DRC. Security escorts are commonly used for gorilla trekking because of the risk of armed attacks.
Travellers considering Bwindi or Mgahinga are advised to use recognised operators, remain on the Ugandan side and check local security conditions.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not currently issue a blanket warning against travel to Uganda.
More importantly, the current official page does not clearly designate a Ugandan region under the formal classifications:
Instead, the FCDO provides detailed regional warnings and tells travellers to exercise heightened caution.
The UK warns that the Allied Democratic Forces, which has links to Daesh, may target tourists and foreign nationals near the DRC border.
Risks include:
The FCDO specifically mentions Bwera, Kasese and Bundibugyo as areas affected by previous attacks or heightened insecurity.
However, the wording is cautionary. The formal “against all travel” warning applies to the DRC provinces across the border, not automatically to a 50-kilometre zone inside Uganda.
The UK advises travellers to be extremely cautious near the South Sudan border. Its formal no-travel warning applies to South Sudan itself.
The FCDO reports:
It advises visitors to remain alert, avoid travelling at night and use properly equipped vehicles.
The UK has not issued a general prohibition on visiting Bwindi or Mgahinga.
Travellers are advised to:
The UK lists Ebola, Marburg, malaria, mpox and yellow fever among Uganda’s health risks. It notes that travellers may encounter temperature screening when leaving Uganda and heightened controls when entering or transiting through other countries.
France has published a specific Ebola alert for Uganda.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs identifies:
as locations considered by Ugandan authorities to be at particularly high risk of new infections.
France reports reinforced health controls at Entebbe International Airport and along the DRC border. Travellers suspected of infection may be subjected to health measures by Ugandan authorities, while airlines may apply their own boarding restrictions.
France strongly advises against approaching or crossing the DRC border outside protected national-park operations.
It specifically warns against:
The principal reasons are armed-group incursions, terrorism, cattle raids and instability in neighbouring countries.
Semuliki National Park is advised against except for compelling reasons because of the possibility of terrorist incursions from the DRC.
France advises travellers to:
France has not been identified as imposing a nationwide ban on entry by all travellers from Uganda.
Reports dated 16 July 2026 state that 15 countries continued to maintain partial or full measures affecting Uganda. Uganda’s health minister said the government was lobbying those states to relax their controls after the last confirmed patient was discharged.
However, the reporting did not name all 15 countries.
The available evidence suggests that the total may combine:
Uganda discharged its last confirmed Ebola patient on 16 July 2026. The country then began a 42-day observation period, equivalent to two consecutive 21-day incubation cycles.
Uganda cannot officially be declared free of the outbreak until:
Uganda recorded 20 confirmed infections and two deaths during the outbreak. Most infections were associated with people who entered from the DRC.
The final declaration remains dependent on continued surveillance because the outbreak in neighbouring DRC is ongoing.
| Destination | General advisory position |
|---|---|
| Kampala | Accessible, but crime, terrorism, demonstrations and health risks require heightened caution |
| Entebbe | Operating as Uganda’s main international gateway; health screening may apply |
| Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | No blanket closure identified; use registered operators and remain inside Uganda |
| Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Travel possible with reputable operators; border proximity requires additional caution |
| Queen Elizabeth National Park | Open in principle, but previous terrorist violence makes security checks essential |
| Murchison Falls National Park | Not under a major foreign-government no-travel classification identified in this research |
| Kibale National Park | No specific blanket prohibition identified |
| Kidepo Valley National Park | Border proximity and remoteness require careful planning |
| Semuliki National Park | France advises against travel except for compelling reasons |
| Karamoja | Heightened risk from cattle raids, banditry and armed confrontations |
| South Sudan border | Highest no-travel warning from Canada and Australia within 50 kilometres |
| DRC border | Severe security and Ebola concerns; crossings restricted or closed |
Commercial flights to Entebbe are not automatically suspended simply because a government issues a travel advisory. However, the measures can still affect aviation through:
Passengers travelling from Uganda should check the rules of:
A traveller may be permitted to leave Uganda but refused boarding because the destination or transit state has imposed a 21-day presence rule.
The United States currently maintains the strongest verified nationwide advisory, placing all of Uganda at Level 4: Do Not Travel.
Canada and Australia also maintain strong nationwide warnings, but both apply their highest regional alert primarily to the South Sudan border. The United Kingdom uses a more differentiated risk-based approach and does not currently impose a formal blanket no-travel warning on Uganda or a clearly defined 50-kilometre Ugandan border zone.
France and the Netherlands concentrate their strongest warnings on the DRC and South Sudan border regions while maintaining specific Ebola guidance. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Canada and the United States have introduced some of the clearest entry or quarantine controls affecting people recently present in Uganda.
The figure of 15 countries is credible as a statement attributed to Ugandan officials, but the complete list remains unverified because it has not been publicly disclosed in the available official material. It should therefore be reported with attribution and should not be converted into an unsupported list of 15 national travel bans.
The Netherlands stands with UK, US, Canada, France and others as Uganda, DRC and South Sudan face highest-level travel alerts impacting East African tourism due to health restrictions, quarantine rules, border risks, airline controls and tourism disruptions during the 42-day virus-free countdown.
In conclusion, the Netherlands stands with the UK, US, Canada, France and others as Uganda, DRC and South Sudan face highest-level travel alerts that are reshaping East African tourism. The combined impact of health restrictions, quarantine rules, border risks, airline controls and tourism disruptions continues to influence travel decisions during the 42-day virus-free countdown, as governments prioritise traveller safety while the region works towards restoring confidence and tourism stability.
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Tags: East African tourism, Ebola travel restrictions, Uganda tourism disruption, Uganda travel alert
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