AGP Executive Report

Ebola Border Clampdown: Uganda has closed its border with the DRC for four weeks to curb the fast-spreading Bundibugyo Ebola strain, allowing only Ebola response teams, humanitarian work, food/cargo and security under strict screening; Uganda reports seven infections and one death as WHO says DRC has over 1,000 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths. Global Travel Rules: The US, Canada and Mexico announced aligned Ebola travel measures ahead of the FIFA World Cup, while Kenya approved a US request to host an Ebola quarantine facility for exposed Americans—prompting backlash from Kenyan doctors and US CDC officials. Funding Pressure: Africa CDC says Ebola funding pledges have nearly halved since Monday, dropping from about $500m to around $290m, as donors reconsider support. Energy Business: Kenya’s President Ruto says the Dangote-backed refinery plan will proceed despite resistance from fuel import interests, aiming to cut dependence on imported products. Governance & Security: Museveni ordered forced leave for top Internal Affairs and police officials over alleged corruption tied to Uganda’s CCTV camera maintenance.

Ebola Border Shock: Uganda has ordered the immediate closure of its border with DR Congo as suspected cases of the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain surge, with only emergency travel allowed and arrivals placed under 21-day isolation—despite WHO warnings that border closures can push movement into unmonitored routes. Health Security Push: IGAD launched a $31.9m regional pandemic preparedness project to strengthen cross-border surveillance, labs and trained health workforces across East Africa, including Uganda. Regional Business Fallout: DR Congo’s football federation has asked FIFA to refund World Cup tickets for fans blocked by US Ebola entry restrictions, highlighting how outbreaks are disrupting trade, travel and consumer spending. Policy & Governance: Parliament is set to approve the reappointed Vice President and Prime Minister as Museveni’s new Cabinet accelerates the 12th Parliament’s start. Environment & Compliance: NEMA’s Lubigi wetland crackdown has paralysed traffic on the Northern Bypass as over 150 illegal structures face demolition, with residents arrested during the operation. Agribusiness Risk: Bugiri farmers report destructive rare pests hitting maize and eggplant, threatening harvests and loan repayments.

Ebola Border Clampdown: Uganda has ordered an immediate closure of its border with the DRC as a rare Bundibugyo Ebola surge nears 1,000 suspected cases, with travel allowed only for outbreak response, cargo and security, and anyone entering under emergency clearance facing 21-day self-isolation. Global Health Pressure: WHO warns the outbreak is “outpacing” containment and describes a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict,” citing insecurity, attacks on health facilities and population movement in eastern DRC. Cross-Border Response Moves: The U.S. says Americans exposed to Ebola abroad will be sent to a new treatment/quarantine facility in Kenya rather than evacuated to the U.S., while ICAO says air travel remains safe if airlines follow health protocols. Local Business & Trade Impact: With Ebola fears rising, governments are tightening travel and screening, raising the risk of Covid-style trade curbs that could disrupt regional commerce. Banking Leadership Change: Ugandan banking veteran Herman Kasekende has stepped down as CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania, handing over to Geoffrey Mchangila. Tax Dispute Watch: URA has been cleared to enforce Shs18.5bn in disputed taxes against Nile Breweries Uganda. Payments Boost for SMEs: PayPal expanded access to its PayPal USD stablecoin to 70 markets, including Africa, aiming to cut cross-border payment delays and costs for Ugandan businesses and freelancers. Energy Cooperation: South Sudan and NELSAP-CU signed an MoU to lead resource mobilization for studies on the Grand Fulla Hydropower Project, with plans to accelerate the Uganda-South Sudan power interconnection.

Ebola Watch: India has quarantined a 28-year-old Ugandan traveller in Bengaluru after mild body aches, with the first Ebola test returning negative and officials keeping her isolated while awaiting follow-up results. Aviation Response: ICAO is urging airlines and governments to stick to post-COVID health protocols as the Bundibugyo Ebola strain spreads across DRC and Uganda, warning against blanket travel bans while pushing targeted screening and reporting. Regional Pressure: In eastern DRC, authorities have suspended flights to Bunia to slow cross-border spread, with humanitarian and medical exceptions. Public Anxiety: Liberia is on high alert after a viral audio sparked panic, even as health authorities say no confirmed Ebola cases have been recorded. Business & Policy: Uganda’s cabinet reshuffle continues to reshape ministries, while EAC talks push harmonised mobile roaming to cut cross-border telecom costs.

Ebola Emergency: The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is accelerating fast, with reports of 220 suspected deaths and nearly 1,000 suspected cases in DR Congo, while Uganda’s response tightens amid fears the crisis could become “deadliest on record.” Airport & Border Moves: WHO’s emergency call is pushing countries to revive or expand screening at airports and tighten travel checks, even as officials warn against blanket travel bans. Aid Under Pressure: Humanitarian groups say conflict, misinformation, and funding cuts are slowing containment, while attacks on treatment sites in Congo are forcing patients to flee. New Tools for Treatment: Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) says it has identified nearly two dozen AI-backed antiviral candidates targeting the Bundibugyo strain, as researchers race toward vaccine and drug trials. EAC Digital Push: Away from health, the EAC is advancing a harmonised mobile roaming framework to cut cross-border communication costs. Trade Shift: Tanzania has become Uganda’s top import source on a gold surge, reshaping regional trade flows.

Ebola Under Fire in Congo: Doctors in eastern DR Congo are now battling not just shortages, but attacks on Ebola treatment sites and patients fleeing after unrest in Ituri—echoing violence that killed more than 25 health workers in the 2018–2020 outbreak. Regional Alarm: African officials say the Bundibugyo outbreak is becoming a cross-border security issue as detection lags and only a fraction of contacts are followed up daily. Funding Push: Global pledges for the response have surged to about $500m, but leaders warn the bill will likely rise as the outbreak spreads. Uganda Angle: Uganda’s Ebola response continues to mobilise expertise as cases climb, while governments weigh smarter border screening over flight bans. Business Watch: In Uganda’s telecom space, Starlink’s licensing and taxation questions are back in focus as regulators seek a local infrastructure setup. Markets: South Africa’s Quantum Foods reports improved earnings on easing feed costs and stronger poultry demand across the region.

Ebola Emergency: Africa CDC says the Ebola situation is worsening fast, with attacks on treatment centres in DR Congo driving patients to flee and disrupting response—WHO warns the outbreak is outpacing efforts and death tolls are climbing. Uganda Response: Uganda has intensified screening for all incoming passengers and reports more confirmed cases, while aviation rules now require airlines to collect passenger self-declaration forms and alert crews to symptoms. Governance & Accountability: In Kampala, Museveni told newly elected parliament leaders to use government tools to fight poverty or face dismissal, as prosecutors were also warned against political interference. City Leadership: KCCA’s Central Executive Committee was unveiled with new appointments, setting the tone for how Kampala’s council will execute priorities. Digital & Youth Skills: Stanbic Bank and ATC Uganda launched Digital Community Spaces to train young people—especially young women—in tech and financial literacy. Business & Trade: Procurement gaps are being flagged at a supplier conference, while EAC moves to harmonize mobile roaming rules to cut cross-border costs. Regional Context: Global pledges for Congo’s Ebola response have surged, but security and fragile health systems remain the biggest bottlenecks.

Ebola Disrupts Travel: Antigua and Barbuda has cancelled the inaugural Air Peace flight from Lagos, citing Ebola concerns, with passengers rerouted via Barbados and screened at ports of entry. Ebola Response Under Pressure: In DR Congo, attacks on Ebola treatment centres have pushed suspected cases past 900 and left patients unaccounted for, while Uganda has imposed travel and gathering restrictions to slow cross-border spread. Regional Health Coordination: Congo, Uganda and South Sudan met in Kampala with Africa CDC and WHO to align a cross-border response, warning that porous borders and trade corridors raise transmission risks. Uganda’s Digital Push: MTN’s Internet Bus programme has graduated 58 Kampala youth in practical ICT and digital business skills, targeting the widening digital divide. Aviation Safety: Bird strike damage forced a Kenya Airways flight to return to Entebbe, spotlighting wildlife hazards on fast-growing East African routes. Governance Spotlight: Uganda’s Anita Among corruption probe has widened to include her radio station, school and hospital in Bukedea.

Ebola Cross-Border Crackdown: Uganda has suspended public transport to DR Congo and restricted mass gatherings in border areas for four weeks as Ebola spreads beyond Ituri, with Uganda’s Ministry of Health saying the measures are precautionary while surveillance and contact tracing ramp up. Outbreak Escalation in Congo: Congo says suspected cases have now passed 900, and authorities have tightened movement—banning air travel in and out of Bunia and requiring special authorisation for aid flights—after treatment centres were attacked and patients fled. Regional Coordination: Health ministers from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan met in Kampala with Africa CDC and WHO, warning that porous borders, trade corridors and displacement raise the risk of wider transmission. Preparedness Pressure: WHO has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, while Africa CDC lists Kenya among 10 high-risk countries and urges stronger early detection. Uganda Business & Society: Kyambogo University added three degree programmes at its Paidha campus; MTN launched a new phase of its AWE programme to scale women-led suppliers; and Uganda’s Cubs qualified for the U-17 World Cup after a penalty win over Ghana.

Ebola Emergency Escalates: WHO has declared the DRC–Uganda Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as the rare Bundibugyo strain spreads fast, with nearly 750 suspected cases and about 180 suspected deaths in Congo; Uganda confirmed 3 more cases (bringing it to 5). Violence Hits Treatment Efforts: In eastern DRC, angry residents have burned Ebola tents and clinics, with 18 suspected patients fleeing after one attack—while Red Cross volunteers report deaths linked to handling bodies. Regional Alarm: Africa CDC warns 10 countries are “at risk” (including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Zambia) and WHO/Africa CDC launched a $314m+ funding appeal, pushing stronger surveillance and cross-border coordination. Border Measures Tighten: The US expanded mandatory Ebola screening to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson for returning travellers from DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, adding to earlier US airport steps. Uganda Politics: President Museveni fired back at journalist Andrew Mwenda over “senile” claims, defending the industrialisation agenda and urging critics to visit local projects. Trade Reality Check: East Africa’s attempt to curb mitumba (second-hand clothes) largely failed, with tariffs and a US push against the ban cited as key reasons.

Ebola Escalation: Uganda has confirmed three more Ebola cases, bringing the total to five, as WHO warns the Congo outbreak is spreading rapidly and risk is now “very high” nationally—while attacks on treatment sites in eastern DRC have already triggered panic and patients fleeing. Regional Alarm: Africa CDC says 10 countries are “at risk” after the Bundibugyo strain resurged in Ituri, and the World Bank is preparing emergency funding for Congo and Uganda. Cross-Border Controls: The US has expanded mandatory Ebola screening to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, and governments are tightening travel and gathering rules across the region. Business & Trade Side-Story: KCCA moves to enforce noise limits on bars, churches and events, signaling tighter urban compliance for operators. Tourism Marketing Gap: Tourism experts urge Uganda to sell itself as a full destination, not just a list of attractions.

Ebola Update: Uganda has confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing infections to five, including a driver linked to the first case and a health worker who caught the virus while treating the patient. Border & Transport Controls: Uganda has suspended ferry services on the Semliki River and halted cross-border road transport for four weeks, with flights between Uganda and Congo paused within 48 hours and tighter rules for schools, prisons, hotels and places of worship. Regional Coordination: The WHO says the Bundibugyo strain is a serious cross-border threat with risk upgraded to “very high” in Congo, while Kenya and Tanzania step up surveillance and preparedness. Diplomacy: The African Union’s envoy Jakaya Kikwete is holding consultative talks in Dar es Salaam with South Sudan opposition groups. Politics at Home: Uganda’s new foreign financing law further narrows opposition room to manoeuvre.

Ebola Escalation: WHO says the DRC–Uganda Ebola outbreak is now “very high” risk in Congo, with 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, while Uganda is “stable” with two confirmed cases; response is being strained by insecurity, late detection, and community pushback including attacks on isolation tents and funeral restrictions. Cross-Border Controls: Kenya reports three travellers and four contacts tested negative but has intensified screening; India has urged neighbouring states to step up surveillance and isolation readiness; Rwanda tightens entry rules for anyone who transited the DRC in the last 30 days. US Travel Shock: The Trump administration is expanding an Ebola-related visa pause, potentially blocking visas for anyone who visited DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days, while the World Bank moves to fund DRC response and warns of financing gaps in the region. Uganda Business & Governance: Uganda launches a prototype showcase for digital identity/DPI solutions, while security raids target Speaker Anita Among’s home amid an active corruption probe. Macro & Tech: IMF urges Africa to reset its growth model toward private investment; Luxembourg opens a tender for deepfake detection tools under the EU AI Act.

Ebola Cross-Border Alarm: An Irish MSF medic says the DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola situation is evolving fast, with estimates likely undercounting the real scale as treatment centres run at capacity and fears grow that the outbreak is spreading beyond Ituri. Violence Disrupts Care: In eastern Congo, an angry crowd set parts of an Ebola hospital on fire after being blocked from retrieving a body, underlining how safe burials and access to care remain fragile. Numbers Climb: WHO says the outbreak has reached hundreds of suspected cases and well over a hundred deaths, with confirmed cases reported in Uganda’s capital Kampala. Global Response Under Strain: Gavi is weighing emergency financing options, while the US has tightened entry rules—forcing some flights to reroute and sending an American patient to Germany for treatment. Uganda Business Angle: Amid the health shock, Uganda’s financial sector is still pushing ahead—NCBA reports Sh6bn Q1 profit on digital lending growth—while trade and travel restrictions threaten cross-border commerce.

Ebola Flashpoint in Congo: Angry residents set fire to an Ebola treatment centre in Rwampara after authorities blocked them from retrieving a body, as WHO says the outbreak is still accelerating with 600+ suspected cases and 148 suspected deaths, and fears of wider spread beyond official figures. US Travel Tightening: The US now requires all travellers from Ebola-linked DRC, Uganda and South Sudan to land at Washington Dulles for enhanced screening, after earlier rules already triggered flight diversions and bans. Regional Spillover: Congo has cancelled its World Cup training camp in Kinshasa amid mounting Ebola fears, while Uganda and neighbours step up border alerts and surveillance. Uganda Business Pressure: A “poll hangover” plus fuel shocks and credit squeeze are hitting real estate and agriculture, with higher pump prices linked to disrupted shipping and insurance costs. Food Security Fight: CropLife Uganda pushes tougher action against counterfeit seeds, fertiliser and crop-protection inputs.

Ebola Alarm, Cross-Border Shock: WHO says the rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is spreading with “scale and speed,” with 139 suspected deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases, while Uganda has confirmed cases in Kampala and a US national has been transferred to Germany. Travel & Trade Disruptions: A flight bound for Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a possible Ebola exposure, and US rules tighten screening for passengers transiting via Nairobi and other hubs—raising fresh compliance pressure for regional travel. Aid Under Strain: In Ituri, responders report shortages of masks, disinfectants and even basic supplies, with conflict and attacks on communities complicating contact tracing. Uganda Business & Policy Signals: Uganda’s tourism stakeholders are pushing reassurance ahead of POATE 2026, and Parliament politics heats up as Museveni summons the NRM CEC to decide Speaker and Deputy Speaker candidates. Regional Economy Watch: Kenya riots in Busia over fuel prices have paralysed border trade, while Kenya’s AI and cloud push continues at GITEX with Oracle cloud infrastructure set for Nairobi.