Arabic version: أوغندا وجنوب السودان يوقعان اتفاقاً صحياً عابراً للحدود

According to Allafrica, Uganda and South Sudan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly detect, prevent and respond to public health emergencies along their shared border. The agreement was signed on 7 September and announced in Juba on 10 September 2026.

Facilitated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the UK Health Security Agency and the World Health Organization through the Continental Incident Management Support Team, the pact creates a shared operational framework for Bundibugyo Virus Disease, viral haemorrhagic fevers, cholera and other cross-border infectious threats.

The agreement comes as an active Ebola outbreak continues in the region. South Sudan has not reported a confirmed Bundibugyo Virus Disease case, but porous borders, high population mobility and health-system vulnerabilities raise the risk of importation. The country is also managing outbreaks of mpox, cholera, measles and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.

The MoU covers cross-border surveillance and early warning, laboratory preparedness and sample referral, screening at points of entry, infection prevention and control, case management, vaccination coordination, contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement. It also addresses the movement of response personnel and supplies.

South Sudan Health Minister Luke Thompson Thoan Teny said the countries would pursue seamless information sharing, joint preparedness and coordinated responses. Uganda Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi stressed the need to turn the agreement into measurable action. The pact will initially remain in force for three years, with skills exchanges, mentorship, joint simulation exercises, timely notification and regular cross-border coordination among its implementation measures.