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WAS - East Africa Tourism Intelligence Brief (16 - 22 Jun 2026)

Weekly
Regional
22 June 2026

LATE DEVELOPMENT - 22 JUNE 2026: UGANDA 42-DAY COUNTDOWN RESET TO ZERO

A WHO situation report published on 22 June 2026 confirmed Uganda's total confirmed Ebola case count has risen to 20 from 19, with 2 deaths. The 20th case follows a 17-day zero-case streak.

The combined DRC and Uganda total now stands at 1,023 confirmed cases and 256 deaths. Uganda's 42-day Ebola-free countdown - which began on 16 June following 11 consecutive zero-case days - has been formally reset to zero. The earliest possible Ebola-free declaration has shifted from late July to mid-August 2026 at the earliest, assuming no further cases. Its transmission chain and exposure source have not been confirmed in publicly available sources at time of publication. All national parks remain fully open and operational. No Ebola transmission has occurred in any wildlife tourism zone throughout the outbreak. Rwanda records zero confirmed cases. WHO Situation Report (22 June 2026)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The week of 16 to 22 June 2026 has closed with a significant late development: a 20th confirmed Ebola case in Uganda, confirmed by WHO on 22 June, resetting the 42-day countdown that had begun on 16 June. This is a setback to Uganda's containment timeline, though Uganda's detection and reporting capability - consistently praised by WHO - means the system is working as it should. The new case has been identified and is in isolation.

Beyond the Ebola picture, the week delivered a series of major structural developments for East Africa tourism. Uganda Airlines finalised its landmark $982 million Boeing fleet order. The African Development Bank approved €155.99 million to upgrade Arua Airport into Uganda's second international hub. Construction of Kidepo International Airport commenced.

Rwanda secured the most significant luxury hospitality investment in its history with The Lux Collective's five-property ultra-luxury tourism circuit. The Attenborough effect continues to drive record permit demand at Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.

The US-Iran Peace Agreement of 14 June and the subsequent UK FCDO advisory lift for the UAE on 18 June have reopened the Middle East aviation corridor. RwandAir resumes full Dubai and Doha schedules from 29 June. Rwanda records zero cases and remains fully open and unrestricted. For WAS partners, Rwanda via Dubai is the immediate priority. Uganda's Q4 October-November dry season window remains the medium-term target.

Stay up to date with our weekly reports, including our archived reports - East Africa Tourism Intelligence.

EBOLA WATCH - Ebola Watch Dashboard

CASE STATISTICS (as at 22 June 2026)

UGANDA

  • Confirmed cases: 20
  • Confirmed deaths: 2
  • Recoveries: 14

Uganda entered its formal WHO-mandated 42-day countdown on 16 June having gone 11 consecutive days without a new confirmed case - the longest zero-case streak since the outbreak began. A 20th case confirmed by WHO on 22 June reset that countdown to zero. Among the 19 previously confirmed cases, 14 were imported from DRC and 5 were local transmission events, all in Kampala or the neighbouring district of Wakiso. No transmission has occurred in any national park or wildlife tourism zone. Uganda's surveillance system - praised by WHO for commissioning a treatment unit within six hours of the outbreak declaration - detected and reported this new case rapidly. WHO Situation Report (22 June 2026)

DRC

  • Confirmed cases: 1,003
  • Confirmed deaths: 254
  • Recoveries: 100

The DRC outbreak crossed 1,000 confirmed cases on 22 June - a deeply concerning threshold. Cases grew 38% in the single week from 12 to 18 June, now spanning 32 health zones across eastern DRC. Africa CDC has warned the outbreak could surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people if transmission is not brought under control. 75 frontline health workers have been infected and 17 have died. Of over $900 million pledged internationally to the response, only $90 million has been released. Contact follow-up rate stands at 58% - an improvement but still below required levels. The outbreak is geographically concentrated in Ituri Province (90%+ of cases), more than 500km from Uganda's gorilla trekking zones. CGTN/Xinhua (22 June 2026)

RWANDA

  • Confirmed cases: 0
  • Confirmed deaths: 0

Zero confirmed cases throughout the entire reporting period. All national parks, Kigali International Airport and tourism infrastructure fully operational. Rwanda's 30-day entry restriction for travellers with DRC travel history remains in force. Rwanda is not subject to any UAE, US, UK or EU travel restriction related to Ebola. ECDC (17 June 2026)

KEY DEVELOPMENTS - EBOLA

  • 15 June - WHO commends Uganda's Ebola response. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the national Ebola Treatment Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, praising Uganda's response as robust. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO Executive Director for Health Emergencies, described 'encouraging signs' including strong community cooperation, newly opened laboratories and patient recoveries. The treatment unit was commissioned within six hours of the outbreak declaration and emergency teams deployed within two hours. Tedros: 'Preparedness saves lives.' UN News (15 June 2026)

  • 16 June - Uganda begins formal 42-day Ebola-free countdown. Uganda's head of Ebola response communications Alan Kasujja confirmed Uganda had entered the WHO-mandated 42-day monitoring window on 16 June. 'The incubation period for the virus is 21 days, and the standard international requirement to declare an end to an outbreak is twice that period - 42 days,' he explained. Surveillance teams remained deployed at high alert in border districts. The countdown was subsequently reset to zero on 22 June following confirmation of the 20th case. Daily Monitor (16 June 2026)

  • 15 June - Ministry of Health: fake Ebola certificates circulating. Uganda's Ministry of Health issued an emergency public warning on 15 June alerting travellers and operators to a criminal racket selling fraudulent 'Ebola-free' certificates. The ministry confirmed clearly: no Ebola certification is required for visa applications, airport clearance or entry into any foreign country from Uganda. Travellers should not pay for or present any such document. Operators must brief all ground handlers and departing clients accordingly. Daily Monitor (16 June 2026)

  • 18 June - DRC cases surge 38% in one week: third largest outbreak in history. Africa CDC confirmed on 18 June that the DRC outbreak had grown 38% in seven days, reaching 894 confirmed cases and passing 200 deaths - making it the worst known outbreak at this stage of any Ebola episode on record. Spread across 32 health zones. Up to 35,000 suspected contacts, fewer than 15% being traced at that point. Africa CDC Dr Wessam Mankoula: 'We are still far from controlling the situation of this outbreak.' AP/CityNews (18 June 2026)

  • 19 June - WHO: 75 health workers infected in DRC, 17 dead. WHO confirmed that 75 medics in the DRC have been infected since the outbreak began, with 17 deaths among health workers. One of the highest healthcare worker infection rates in Ebola outbreak history, reflecting acute PPE shortages and overwhelmed isolation capacity in Ituri Province. WHO issued a direct appeal for accelerated international medical personnel deployment. Al Jazeera (19 June 2026) | Reuters (19 June 2026)

  • 20 June - DRC confirmed cases reach 933, deaths 245. DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba confirmed in Ituri Province that confirmed cases had risen to 933 with 245 deaths. 80 recovered patients discharged from treatment centres. Response described as continuing 'intensification' of surveillance and community engagement. Reuters/Devdiscourse (20 June 2026)

  • 22 June - DRC crosses 1,000 cases; Uganda 20th case confirmed by WHO. DRC confirmed cases reached 1,003 with 254 deaths and 365 patients in isolation. WHO situation report published on the same day confirmed Uganda's 20th case, resetting the 42-day countdown. Combined total: 1,023 confirmed, 256 deaths. CGTN/Xinhua (22 June 2026) | WHO (22 June 2026)

EBOLA-RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY (as at 22 June 2026)

  • UAE. Formal entry ban in force since 13:00, 6 June 2026. Entry restricted for all travellers from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan including those transiting via third countries. All new visa issuance suspended for nationals of the three countries. Entry permitted only for travellers who have spent more than 21 days outside the listed countries. Rwanda is NOT on the restricted list. Gulf Business (June 2026)

  • United States. Uganda Level 4 Do Not Travel. Entry banned for non-citizens and green card holders from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan. US citizens must return via Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Houston or JFK. Rwanda at Level 2. US has pledged over $200 million to the Ebola response. US Embassy Uganda (4 June 2026)

  • Canada. 90-day entry ban for DRC, Uganda and South Sudan residents. 21-day mandatory quarantine for returnees. 36,000 PR applications suspended until 28 August 2026. 1,700 PR visa holders blocked from travel to Canada.

  • Rwanda. 30-day entry restriction for travellers with DRC travel history in the past 30 days. Zero confirmed Ebola cases. All tourism infrastructure fully operational. Wego (28 May 2026)

  • Bahrain and Jordan. 30-day entry bans for travellers from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan.

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