The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces 4 Infantry Division Commander, Major General Felix Busizoori, has met cattle traders from the Acholi, Lango and West Nile sub-regions to discuss measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola while ensuring the orderly regulation of livestock trade.
The meeting took place at the 4 Infantry Division Headquarters in Gulu City and brought together key livestock traders who operate within Uganda and across the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The discussions focused mainly on balancing public health safety with the need to keep trade running in an organised and controlled way.
Major General Busizoori explained that the National Task Force, working closely with the Ministry of Health, has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to help stop the spread of Ebola. As part of these measures, the government has temporarily closed the border with the DRC and suspended livestock markets that operate near the border areas. These steps are meant to reduce the risk of infection entering Uganda through cross-border movement.
He further noted that the government, through the Ministry of Health, has established an Ebola treatment centre in Aru in the DRC. The facility is supported and protected by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces. According to him, treating patients within the DRC helps reduce the chances of infected persons crossing into Uganda and spreading the disease to local communities.
The commander emphasised that all these actions are aimed at protecting the lives of Ugandans while still allowing authorities to monitor and regulate livestock trade in a more structured way. He added that security and health agencies are working together to ensure that the measures are followed across all affected districts.
District Security Committees in border districts such as Zombo, Koboko, Yumbe, Pakwach, Nebbi, and Arua are continuing to enforce the restrictions on movement across the border. These committees play a key role in making sure that the Ebola prevention strategy is followed at the local level.
During the meeting, cattle traders agreed to organise themselves better and to share regular information with security authorities. They committed to reporting the number of animals transported from different regions to improve monitoring and planning.
The traders also agreed on a new arrangement where each sub-region—Acholi, Lango, and West Nile—will have specific days for trading. This system is intended to reduce congestion, improve coordination, and make it easier for authorities to track livestock movement.
Another major decision reached was the use of a single designated transport route through Pakwach. This will help regulate movement more effectively, limit unnecessary travel, and reduce the risk of Ebola transmission through uncontrolled movement of people and animals.
Traders were also urged to take responsibility for monitoring their own activities and to report anyone attempting to cross into the DRC for livestock trade in violation of the restrictions. Authorities believe that community cooperation is essential in preventing further spread of the disease.
West Nile continues to face challenges due to its porous border with the DRC, where communities have long been connected through trade and social ties. This close relationship makes it difficult to fully control movement, so continuous vigilance remains important in preventing outbreaks.
Overall, the meeting marked an important step in strengthening cooperation between security forces, health authorities, and livestock traders in the fight against Ebola while protecting trade and livelihoods in the region.
