In recent years, Uganda’s policy has faced significant shocks, arising mainly from foreign aid cuts which widened gaps in the access of critical social services like healthcare, education and clean water. Service providers such as World Food Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Save the Children have substantially scaled down their operations, owing to budget shortfalls.

Now, a new crisis is disrupting the policy: the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Having been declared a public health emergency of international concern a fortnight ago, suspected Ebola cases in DRC have skyrocketed from just below 300 to 1,077 as of May 28, according to the Africa CDC , while Uganda’s confirmed cases have risen to seven. So far, DRC has recorded 246 suspected deaths, while Uganda has reported 1.

Experts warn that the Bundibugyo strain is highly transmittable and could claim many lives, as efforts to find a vaccine take shape.

In the last few days, inflows have overwhelmed the Nyakabande Transit Centre in Kisoro district, very close to the DRC-Uganda border. The huge numbers have worsened the risk of Ebola cases being imported by people fleeing armed violence. The centre currently accommodates over 1,775 refugees, more than twice its capacity – underscoring the heightened risk of disease spread.

As a public health measure, Uganda has temporarily closed its border with DRC, denying entry to hundreds fleeing gunfire and hunger.

“The only exceptions are authorised Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and security,” Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, announced on Wednesday.

While this clearly passes for preventing the spread of Ebola, it signifies a shift in the country’s approach, pointing to the potential implications; notably, subjecting vulnerable groups like women and children to possible harm.

Zawadi Simbenzye, a refugee, confirms that despite the absence of intense fighting in some parts of eastern DRC, they “are facing generalised insecurity in form of gross human rights abuses such as rape, gender-based violence, economic exploitation through extortion and looting, abductions for ransom, forced recruitment among others.”

Therefore, the measure is problematic.

In fact, it might push migrants to explore informal border crossing, hampering efforts to curb virus spread across the region, a view shared by the World Health Organisation.

This crisis tests the resilience of Uganda’s refugee policy, highlighting the need to build more capacity in the area of pandemic response amid conflict-induced displacement. Response strategies must consider alternative funding sources in light of the ever-shifting priorities of foreign funders.

This is especially critical as the isolation centre at Nyakabande grapples with human resource and logistical shortages amid the downsizing of social services by local providers facing funding inefficiencies.

As a result, Ebola screening and the isolation of suspected infected persons have been impeded. Furthermore, it has put the lives of healthcare workers working with insufficient personal protective tools, on the line.

The overcrowding at transit centres is gravely concerning. The respective governments must move swiftly to set up more screening points and distribute subsidised protective tools such as face masks and hand sanitisers. To achieve this, they could explore public-private partnerships in order to boost local manufacturing of the materials. This will not only help solve the logistical challenges; it will also boost local industry and ultimately the economy.

What’s needed now is community engagement, to build public trust and avoid a repeat of nasty incidents in DRC where mobs set ablaze treatment tents, making the entire community vulnerable.

The article solely represents the views of Simpson Muhwezi, a Ugandan freelance writer and development practitioner.

You are shocked! I know.

As high as half of the population of countries ignores this proper hygiene routine that is pretty 'normal' across the globe.

According to a report by Gallup International on Europe's handwashing habits, just a handful of countries have close to 95% of their population washing their hands with soap and water after visiting the loo.

At the bottom of the list is the Netherlands, with only 50% of people reporting they wash their hands after using the toilet — the lowest rate in Europe. This is particularly surprising considering the country’s otherwise high standards of public health and hygiene.

In a sharp contrast, Bosnia & Herzegovina tops the list, with an impressive 96% of individuals practising proper hand hygiene. Closely following are Turkey at 94%, Portugal at 85%, and Romania at 84%.

Western European countries generally showed lower rates than their Eastern counterparts. For instance, Italy stands at 57%, Spain at 61%, and France at 62%. The UK reports a relatively modest 75%, while Germany, Sweden, and Iceland all hover around 78%.

The importance of hand hygiene can never be overemphasised and has been especially important in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Handwashing with soap and water remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases .

This revelation serves as a continuous reminder that despite awareness campaigns and public health efforts, there is still a significant need for education and behaviour change in certain regions of Europe.

According to the latest figures from IHME Global Burden of Disease and Global Terrorism Database, 74% of global deaths are caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—long-term, often lifestyle-related illnesses that receive relatively little attention in public discourse compared to infectious diseases or violent conflict.

A breakdown of global mortality

The data segments the primary causes of death into three categories:

1. Noncommunicable Diseases (74%)

Leading this category:

This overwhelming majority underscores the need for urgent investment in public health systems, prevention campaigns, and healthier living initiatives to address the rising burden of chronic diseases—particularly in aging populations and increasingly urbanized societies.

2. Infectious diseases (14%)

Despite considerable progress in combating infectious diseases globally, they still represent a significant portion of deaths:

These diseases predominantly affect low- and middle-income countries and remain a top concern for global health organizations working to reduce mortality through vaccination, sanitation, and access to medical care.

3. Injuries, accidents , and other causes (12%)

This category includes both preventable and external factors:

Despite media focus, deaths from war, terrorism, and violence account for only a tiny fraction of global mortality.

Despite significant advances in medical research and healthcare, heart-related illnesses continue to pose the greatest health threat across member states, accounting for over 1.7 million deaths annually.

Eurostat ’s 2024 report reveals that approximately 32% of all deaths in the EU are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, which include conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension-related complications.

WHO data further underscores this trend, indicating that ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (primarily strokes) are the two main culprits behind premature mortality in the region.

While cancer and other chronic diseases have become more prominent in public discourse, cardiovascular diseases still eclipse them in terms of total fatalities. The burden is especially pronounced in Central and Eastern European countries, where lifestyle factors, limited access to preventive care, and economic disparities contribute to higher mortality rates.

CVDs affect both men and women, though the patterns differ. Eurostat data shows that men are more likely to suffer fatal heart attacks at a younger age, while women tend to have higher rates of fatal strokes later in life.

Countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary report the highest age-standardised mortality rates from cardiovascular causes, in contrast to France, Spain, and Italy, where rates are considerably lower due to better diet, healthcare access, and public health initiatives.

According to data from World Population Review , here are the top 7 countries with the lowest cancer rates per 100,000 people:

Sierra Leone: With an age-standardized rate (ASR) of just 35.9 cases per 100,000 people , Niger has the lowest cancer rate globally.

Angola: Following closely, Angola reports an ASR of 76.8 cases per 100,000.

Gambia: Gambia reports an ASR of 79.2 cases per 100,000.

Republic of the Congo: DR Congo has an ASR of 80.7 cases per 100,000.

Nepal: This South Asian country has an ASR of 81.6 cases per 100,000.

Qatar: With an ASR of 82.4 cases per 100,000, Qatar ranks sixth.

Yemen: This Middle East nation reports an ASR of 83.1 cases per 100,000.