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WAS - East Africa Tourism Intelligence Brief (23 - 29 Jun 2026)

Weekly
Regional
29 June 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Uganda has recorded no new Ebola cases since 21 June. The 42-day countdown, reset on 22 June following Uganda's 20th confirmed case, has now restarted. If no further cases emerge, Uganda's earliest possible Ebola-free declaration shifts to early August 2026. All national parks in Uganda and Rwanda remain fully open and operational throughout.

The DRC outbreak remains deeply serious. Confirmed cases have climbed to 1,155 with 304 deaths as of 25 June - an increase of 152 confirmed cases in one week. The geographical concentration remains in Ituri Province (1,054 cases), more than 500km from Uganda's gorilla trekking zones.

A confirmed Ebola case in France on 24 June, imported from DRC with no onward transmission, has elevated European media attention but does not alter the fundamental risk picture for East Africa tourism.

RwandAir's Dubai and Doha routes resumed on 29 June as scheduled. Rwanda records zero Ebola cases and zero travel restrictions from any major source market. For WAS partners, Rwanda via Dubai is fully operational from today. Uganda's Q4 October-November dry season window remains the confirmed medium-term target for deferred Uganda bookings.

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

EBOLA WATCH - Ebola Watch Dashboard

![Map produced by ECDC on 26 Jun 2026]

Figure 1: Map produced by ECDC on 26 Jun 2026

CASE STATISTICS (as at 29 June 2026)

UGANDA

Confirmed cases: 20 Confirmed deaths: 2 Recoveries: 15

Uganda's 42-day countdown was reset to zero on 22 June following confirmation of the 20th case. No new cases have been reported since 21 June. As of 26 June, the countdown has restarted and is accumulating. 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 transmission has occurred in any national park or wildlife tourism zone throughout the outbreak. Uganda's surveillance system continues to receive international praise from WHO. ECDC (26 June 2026)

DRC

Confirmed cases: 1,155 Confirmed deaths: 304 Hospitalised in isolation: 385

The DRC outbreak grew by 152 confirmed cases in the week to 25 June - continuing a trajectory that has seen cases more than double in the past three weeks. Ituri Province accounts for 1,054 cases across 22 health zones. North Kivu has reported 98 cases from 11 health zones. No new affected health zones were added in this reporting period. The outbreak remains geographically concentrated more than 500km from Uganda's gorilla trekking zones. Of over $900 million pledged internationally to the response, disbursement continues to lag critically. ECDC (26 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 (26 June 2026)

EUROPE - FRANCE IMPORTED CASE

A confirmed Ebola case in France was reported by the French Ministry of Health on 24 June - the first confirmed case of this outbreak in Europe. The case was imported from DRC and no onward transmission has been reported. This follows a separate imported case reported in Germany on 19 May in a US citizen evacuated for treatment. ECDC assesses the likelihood of infection for people living in the EU/EEA as very low. The France case has elevated European media attention but does not alter the risk assessment for East Africa tourism. ECDC (24 June 2026)

KEY DEVELOPMENTS - EBOLA

  • 24 June - France confirms first imported Ebola case in Europe. The French Ministry of Health confirmed a case of Ebola disease in a traveller from DRC on 24 June. No onward transmission has been identified. ECDC activated preparedness guidance for EU Member States and called for continued investment in preparedness frameworks. The case reinforces the importance of airport screening protocols at European hubs but does not change the risk profile for East Africa-bound travellers. ECDC (24 June 2026)

  • 25 June - DRC reports 1,155 confirmed cases and 304 deaths. DRC Ministry of Health data published 25 June confirms 37 new cases and 5 new deaths since the 23 June update. Ituri Province remains the epicentre. Contact follow-up rates have improved but remain below required levels. The Africa CDC has warned of catastrophic consequences if the response funding gap is not closed. ECDC (26 June 2026)

  • 21 June - Uganda's 20th case: no further cases reported since. The 20th case confirmed by WHO on 22 June represented the last reported case in Uganda as of this brief's publication. ECDC confirmed on 26 June that no new cases have been reported since 21 June. Uganda's surveillance system - which commissioned a treatment unit within six hours of the outbreak declaration - continues to receive consistent international commendation. The 42-day countdown has restarted. ECDC (26 June 2026)

  • Canada mandatory quarantine end date: 29 August 2026. Canada's travel health notice for Uganda confirms that mandatory quarantine and border measures will end on 29 August 2026 at 23:59, unless extended. This is the first confirmed end date published by any major source market for its Uganda Ebola border measures. WAS partners with Canadian clients should note this date. Government of Canada (June 2026)

EBOLA-RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY (as at 29 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. RwandAir Dubai-Kigali direct resumed 29 June 2026. Gulf Business (June 2026)

  • United States. Uganda Level 4 Do Not Travel. Entry banned for non-citizens and non-permanent residents from Uganda, DRC and South Sudan. US citizens returning from affected areas must route via Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Houston or JFK. Rwanda remains at Level 2. US has pledged over $200 million to the Ebola response. US Embassy Uganda (June 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. 36,000 PR applications suspended until 28 August 2026. Government of Canada (June 2026)

  • 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. Rwanda remains unrestricted for all major source markets. ECDC (26 June 2026)

  • 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. UK FCDO advisory for the UAE lifted on 18 June following the US-Iran Peace Agreement. Enhanced screening at selected EU airports for Uganda returnees. ECDC assesses risk to EU/EEA residents as very low. France case has not triggered additional travel restrictions. ECDC (26 June 2026)

  • WHO position. WHO continues to oppose blanket travel restrictions, describing them as counterproductive and inconsistent with the actual epidemiological risk. Uganda's transparent reporting and rapid detection are consistently cited as evidence that open surveillance should be rewarded, not penalised.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS - GENERAL

  • 29 June - RwandAir resumes Dubai and Doha routes as planned. RwandAir's Kigali-Dubai (4 weekly) and Kigali-Doha (6 weekly) services resumed on 29 June 2026 as previously confirmed. Rwanda is not subject to the UAE entry ban. UAE-based travellers can now book and fly Rwanda gorilla trekking directly without routing complications. RwandAir's APEX Best Cabin Service in Africa award reinforces its premium market positioning ahead of the peak booking season. New Times Rwanda (June 2026)

  • KLM Amsterdam-Entebbe suspension extended to at least 1 July 2026. KLM has extended its cancellation of Amsterdam-Entebbe flights to at least 1 July 2026, citing travel restrictions and crew scheduling complications related to Ebola quarantine mandates. No confirmed restart date has been published. Clients booked on KLM should be rerouted via Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines,

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