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WAS - East Africa Tourism Intelligence Brief (14 - 20 Jul 2026)

Weekly
Regional
20 July 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Uganda has now reached 29 consecutive days without a confirmed Ebola case as of 20 July 2026, with the 42-day countdown to a formal Ebola-free declaration continuing uninterrupted. The earliest possible declaration date remains 27 August 2026, following the discharge of the last patient on 16 July. The Uganda Ministry of Health confirms 20 total cases and 2 deaths. All wildlife tourism zones remain unaffected throughout the entire outbreak period.

The DRC Ebola outbreak continues to accelerate at its fastest pace to date. ECDC and CDC data as of 16 July confirms 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths, a rise of over 330 cases in one week. Ituri Province remains the epicentre, more than 500km from Uganda's wildlife tourism zones.

Rwanda records zero Ebola and zero Marburg cases throughout the reporting period. All national parks remain fully operational. SalamAir's Muscat-Kigali twice-weekly direct service launched on schedule on 21 July, opening the first affordable direct Gulf-Rwanda routing. The US CDC entry ban for Uganda and DRC was extended again on 13 July, now running until at least 12 August. Rwanda remains unaffected by all major source market restrictions.

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

EBOLA WATCH - Ebola Watch Dashboard

2026 Ebola - Confirmed Cases by Provinces and District

Legend:

  • Health zone (DRC) / district (UGA) with confirmed case
  • Province (DRC) with confirmed case
  • Province (DRC) / district (UGA) boundary
  • International boundary
  • Selected city

DRC data as of July 15, 2026 Uganda data as of July 16, 2026 Data sources: DRC INSP, UG MOH, Esri and Impact Observatory, Europa, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, US DoS

Figure 1: Map produced by CDC on 15 Jul 2026

CASE STATISTICS (as at 20 July 2026)

UGANDA

  • Confirmed cases: 20

  • Confirmed deaths: 2

  • Recoveries: 18

  • Days case-free: 29 (last confirmed case: 21 June 2026)

  • Days into formal 42-day countdown: 4 (countdown began 16 July 2026 - last patient discharged)

  • Earliest possible Ebola-free declaration: 27 August 2026 (16 July + 42 days)

Uganda's case count remains fixed at 20 for the 29th consecutive day. The 42-day countdown continues uninterrupted following the discharge of the last confirmed patient on 16 July. Of the 20 confirmed cases, 15 were imported from DRC and 5 were local transmission events, all in Kampala or the neighbouring district of Wakiso. No Ebola transmission has occurred in any national park or wildlife tourism zone. ECDC (16 July 2026)

DRC

  • Confirmed cases: 2,344
  • Confirmed deaths: 930

The DRC outbreak continues at its steepest sustained acceleration to date. ECDC confirmed 2,344 cases and 930 deaths as of 18 July. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned the outbreak is spreading faster than any previous recorded Ebola event, with 80% of new DRC cases arising from previously unknown transmission chains. Ituri Province remains the epicentre. The geographic distance of more than 500km from Uganda's gorilla trekking zones remains the critical buffer. WHO (19 July 2026)

RWANDA

  • Confirmed Ebola cases: 0
  • Confirmed Marburg cases: 0

Zero confirmed Ebola or Marburg cases throughout the entire reporting period. All national parks, Kigali International Airport and tourism infrastructure remain fully operational. Rwanda is not subject to any UAE, UK or EU travel restriction related to Ebola or Marburg. ECDC (16 July 2026)

KEY DEVELOPMENTS - EBOLA

  • 16 July - Last Ebola patient discharged, formal 42-day countdown begins. Uganda discharged its final confirmed Ebola patient from Mulago National Referral Isolation Centre on 16 July, triggering the formal countdown. Uganda's Health Minister confirmed 20 total cases and 2 deaths - a 10% mortality rate, significantly below the historical 25-90% range for Ebola outbreaks. WHO AFRO (16 July 2026)

  • 16 July - DRC confirmed cases reach 2,124 with 828 deaths. The steepest sustained weekly acceleration of the outbreak to date. WHO has requested $115m in emergency funding and received only $45m. The geographic distance of 500km+ from Uganda's tourism zones remains intact. ECDC (16 July 2026)

EBOLA-RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY (as at 20 July 2026)

  • UAE. Formal entry ban remains in force since 13:00, 6 June 2026. Entry restricted for all travellers from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan. Entry permitted only for travellers who have spent more than 21 days outside the listed countries. Rwanda is NOT on the restricted list. Status under review pending Uganda's 42-day countdown progress.

  • United States. CDC entry ban extended again on 13 July, now running until at least 12 August 2026. Applies to non-citizens and non-permanent residents from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan. Rwanda remains at Level 3 - Reconsider Travel, reflecting long-standing DRC border factors. Volcanoes National Park is explicitly excluded from the restricted zone. CDC (13 July 2026)

  • Canada. 90-day entry ban for DRC, Uganda and South Sudan residents. 21-day mandatory quarantine for returnees. Measures confirmed to end 29 August 2026. Rwanda unrestricted.

  • Rwanda. 30-day entry restriction for travellers with DRC travel history in the past 30 days. Zero confirmed Ebola or Marburg cases. All tourism infrastructure fully operational.

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

  • EU and UK. No formal entry bans on Uganda or Rwanda. Enhanced screening at selected EU airports for Uganda returnees. ECDC continues to assess risk to EU/EEA residents as very low. ECDC (16 July 2026)

  • WHO position. WHO continues to oppose blanket travel restrictions, describing them as counterproductive and inconsistent with actual epidemiological risk. Uganda's transparent reporting and containment record continue to be cited as grounds for lifting restrictions.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS - GENERAL

  • 21 July - SalamAir Muscat-Kigali direct service due to launch on schedule. SalamAir's twice-weekly direct Muscat-Kigali service is due to launch as scheduled on 21 July 2026, operating Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fares from OMR 69.99. SalamAir has opened a Rwanda office and appointed a local sales agent ahead of the inaugural service. This creates the first affordable direct routing between the Gulf and Rwanda and opens a live commercial channel for WAS's Oman outreach campaign. Oman Observer (20 July 2026)

  • KLM Amsterdam-Entebbe suspension - extended to at least 9 August, no new restart date. KLM's suspension of Amsterdam-Entebbe services remains in force. No updated restart date has been published during the reporting period. Clients booked on KLM should continue to be rerouted via Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines. KLM Travel Alerts (July 2026)

  • Uganda continues diplomatic lobby to lift travel restrictions. Following the discharge of the last Ebola patient on 16 July, Uganda's Ministry of Health and government have intensified diplomatic outreach to source market governments requesting the lifting of Ebola-related travel restrictions. The Guardian reported Uganda's formal call for restrictions to be lifted on 16 July. The Guardian (16 July 2026)

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

  • DRC acceleration increases Uganda import risk - countdown remains intact. The DRC outbreak's sustained acceleration to 2,344 cases increases the statistical probability of further imported cases into Uganda. The 42-day countdown remains on track for 27 August, but its continuation cannot be guaranteed. Partners should communicate the August window as a working target while maintaining contingency planning for any scenario change.

  • SalamAir Gulf-Rwanda link now live - first-mover commercial opportunity open. With SalamAir's Muscat-Kigali service soon to be operational, Oman-based operators and clients have a direct, affordable routing to Rwanda for the first time. Rwanda gorilla demand remains at record levels. WAS's Oman outreach campaign is timed to capture this moment. Partners in Oman should be engaged immediately. SalamAir (July 2026)

  • Rwanda Gorilla Permits - Q3 closing, Q4 booking window narrowing. Rwanda Gorilla permits continue to sell at pace, driven by sustained demand from the Netflix David Attenborough documentary effect. Any partner with undecided Rwanda Q3 clients should convert to confirmed bookings immediately. Q4 remains the primary window for new bookings.

  • Near-term Uganda booking softness continues - Q4 recovery window on track. Short-term booking pressure for Uganda persists, consistent with patterns from every prior Ebola outbreak. Partners who begin pipeline conversations for Q4 2026 now, Uganda's peak dry season, will be best positioned at the Ebola-free declaration.

STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT

  • 27 August is the Uganda Ebola-free target - begin Q4 pipeline conversations this week. Day 4 of the formal 42-day countdown, 29 days since the last confirmed case. The countdown started 16 July when the last patient was discharged. Every day maintained builds the case for proactive Uganda outreach. Do not wait for the formal declaration - open Q4 conversations now, position October-November as Uganda's finest wildlife period, and offer confirmed rebooking options to every deferred Uganda client. The parks are open, the wildlife is undisturbed, and the product is ready. Uganda Ministry of Health (July 2026)

  • SalamAir is live - activate Oman partners immediately. The route is operational. Every week of delay in engaging Oman-based operators is a week of first-mover advantage lost. Rwanda Gorilla Trekking combined with the new direct Muscat-Kigali flight is a compelling, timely offer.

  • Act on Rwanda Q3 undecided clients without further delay. July dates are fully sold out. Q3 availability is narrowing. Every undecided Rwanda client should be converted to a confirmed booking immediately, with Q4 as the fallback where Q3 has been missed.

FLIGHT AVAILABILITY AND ROUTING

Entebbe International Airport (EBB) - Uganda

  • EBB fully operational. Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir and Uganda Airlines all operating scheduled services normally. Uganda Airlines expanded schedule (14 destinations) remains in effect.
  • KLM Amsterdam-Entebbe suspended to at least 9 August 2026. No new restart date published. Reroute clients via Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines. KLM Travel Alerts (July 2026)

Kigali International Airport (KGL) - Rwanda

  • KGL fully operational. All international carriers operating normally. Enhanced health screening in place for arrivals. RwandAir continues Kigali-Dubai (4 weekly) and Kigali-Doha (6 weekly) services.
  • SalamAir Muscat-Kigali launched 21 July. Twice-weekly direct service, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fares from OMR 69.99. Rwanda office open. Sales agent appointed. First direct affordable Gulf-Kigali routing now operational. SalamAir (July 2026)

AVIATION, TRAVEL AND VISAS

  • Uganda e-visa remains operational. Uganda's online visa portal continues to function normally. Yellow Fever vaccination remains mandatory for all travellers. Gorilla Trekking permits must be pre-booked through UWA or licensed operators.

  • Warning: fake Ebola certificates - no certification required for Uganda departures. No Ebola-free certificate is required for any international travel from Uganda. Criminal networks continue selling fraudulent certificates. Partners must brief all ground handlers and inform departing clients. These documents have no official status. Uganda MOH (June 2026)

  • UAE entry ban in force - Rwanda confirmed alternative for UAE clients. UAE residents who have been in Uganda cannot re-enter the UAE for 21 days. Rwanda is NOT on the restricted list.

  • Rwanda 30-day DRC travel history restriction in force. Screen all clients for DRC travel history before confirming Rwanda itineraries.

Advisory landscape for key source markets (20 July 2026)

  • United States: Uganda Level 4 Do Not Travel. Entry ban extended to 12 August. Rwanda Level 3 - Reconsider Travel.
  • UK: Uganda enhanced advisory. Rwanda standard.
  • UAE: Formal 21-day entry ban for Uganda, DRC and South Sudan effective 6 June. Rwanda not affected.
  • Canada: 90-day ban. 21-day quarantine. Measures end 29 August. Rwanda unrestricted.
  • Bahrain and Jordan: 30-day entry bans for Uganda, DRC and South Sudan.
  • Australia: Enhanced screening. No formal ban.
  • EU: No entry bans. Risk assessed as very low.

PERMIT AVAILABILITY

UGANDA

  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Mountain Gorilla Trekking. Fully Operational.
  • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park - Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking. Fully Operational.
  • Kibale National Park - Chimpanzee Trekking. Fully Operational.
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park. Fully Operational.
  • Murchison Falls National Park. Fully Operational.
  • Kidepo Valley National Park. Fully Operational. New international airport under construction.

RWANDA

  • Volcanoes National Park - Mountain Gorilla Trekking. Fully Operational. July sold out. Q4 booking strongly advised.
  • Volcanoes National Park - Golden Monkey Trekking. Fully Operational.
  • Nyungwe Forest National Park - Chimpanzee Trekking. Fully Operational.
  • Akagera National Park. Fully Operational.

WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION

  • Rwanda Gorilla Permits - Q4 booking window closing fast. Sustained demand driven by Netflix's 'A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough' continues to push Volcanoes National Park to capacity. The daily permit cap of 96-112 permits cannot meet demand. Partners must advise all Rwanda clients to secure Q4 dates immediately. Rwanda Development Board (July 2026)

  • Uganda wildlife zones confirmed unaffected by Ebola. No transmission of Ebola virus has occurred in any wildlife tourism zone throughout the entire outbreak period. Uganda Wildlife Authority continues to implement enhanced biosecurity at all park entry points. Gorilla Trekking group sizes remain capped at 8 persons per family with full health screening in place. Uganda Wildlife Authority (July 2026)

  • Kidepo International Airport construction underway. Construction continues on the new Kidepo International Airport, financed by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce ($72m). Expected to significantly improve access to northern Uganda's wilderness circuit upon completion.

ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2026

  • ATM 2026 rescheduled to 14-17 September 2026 - Dubai World Trade Centre. Arabian Travel Market 2026 has been rescheduled twice, originally from 4-7 May to August, then again to 14-17 September 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Both postponements were directly linked to the regional security environment following the US-Iran military hostilities in the Persian Gulf earlier this year. The September dates now position ATM as a key post-summer trade engagement platform for Gulf-based buyers. ATM / TTR Weekly (May 2026)

  • ATM 2026 theme: Travel 2040 - Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology. The confirmed theme focuses on how innovation and technology are reshaping global travel, addressing disruption and emerging destination trends. Africa and East Africa have featured prominently in recent ATM editions as a high-growth inbound destination market for Gulf-based travellers. ATM (2026)

WAS ASSESSMENT

  • Begin Q4 Uganda client pipeline conversations this week - do not wait for the declaration. Day 4 of the formal 42-day countdown (29 days since last confirmed case on 21 June). 27 August remains the earliest possible Ebola-free declaration date. Open conversations now, offer Q4 rebooking options to every deferred Uganda client, and position October-November as the prime wildlife window. The parks are open, the wildlife is undisturbed, and the product is ready. Uganda Ministry of Health (July 2026)

  • SalamAir is live - Oman partners must be contacted this week. The Muscat-Kigali route launched on 21 July. This is a live commercial moment. The first operators to place clients on this route will be the ones who build the Oman-Rwanda relationship long-term. Brief all Oman partners immediately. SalamAir (July 2026)

  • ATM timing creates a direct WAS commercial window immediately after Uganda Ebola-free declaration. With ATM 2026 running 14-17 September and Uganda's earliest Ebola-free declaration falling on 27 August, the two events align directly. If Uganda achieves Ebola-free status on 27 August, WAS will have a confirmed, restriction-free Uganda product to present to Gulf travel trade buyers at ATM just 18 days later. This positions ATM as a key platform for relaunching Uganda to the Gulf market and converting the post-outbreak recovery narrative into confirmed Q4 bookings. ATM (2026)

  • Monitor DRC case trajectory daily. DRC's accelerating case count is the primary risk to Uganda's 27 August target. The 500km+ geographic buffer remains intact but the rate of growth warrants daily monitoring. Update partners immediately if Uganda records any new confirmed Ebola case. ECDC (16 July 2026)

ENDS

Intelligence coverage window: 14 - 20 July 2026. This brief is produced for tour operators, travel agents and travel partners of Wildlife Adventure Safaris. Information is sourced from WHO, Uganda Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, ECDC, US Department of State, government travel portals, international newswires and industry publications. All news-based intelligence is limited to the 7-day reporting window. Wildlife Adventure Safaris accepts no liability for changes to government policy or health conditions after the date of issue.

Wildlife Adventure Safaris Tel: +256 751 200 900 | Tel: +971 55 599 7752 contact@wildlifeadventureuganda.com www.wildlifeadventureuganda.com

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