EASTERN PROVINCE

KAGITUMBA — Just days after Rwanda introduced compulsory screening at its borders with Uganda over Ebola, travellers are angry at the exercise.

Travellers on Monday expressed displeasure saying the exercise was consuming more of their time in trying to establish whether someone has recently lived in the affected areas.

"They have asked me lots questions after filling in the form requiring to give details of someone’s residence in the past three weeks and I told them I don’t know anything about this deadly virus epidemic, I just heard that its killing people in Bundibugyo but with me am just coming from Masaka district which is still virus free,” one traveller identified as Musoke said at the border.

But medical officials are not yet to relax in their efforts to prevent the spread of the epidemic which has claimed several lives since its latest outbreak in the western district of Uganda.

"We work closely with migration office to identify people from Ebola affected areas and everyone is required to give identifications to help in the screening process,” said one medical official.

Anyone entering the country is being asked to reveal their areas of origin and their residences in the past three weeks.

Doctor Sahaha, the medical team overseer at the border who is also head of Nyagatare hospital said that since they opened up a clinic at Kagitumba no single case has been found.  Another clinic at was set up at Buziba entry point.

He said that residents have been sensitized at general village meetings and through brochures and announcements posted at different locations in the area indicating vital information about signs and mode of infection.

The doctor noted that residents have been told to avoid shaking hands, getting close to dead bodies and also to be vigilant on strangers in their areas of residence.

Governor Theoneste Mutsindashaka recently told local leaders to restrict cross-border movement over the deadly disease.

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