KASESE – A standoff is brewing at the Mpondwe Lhubiriha border post in kasese district following a directive to close the Mpondwe market to prevent the potential spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kasese, Lt. Joe Walusimbi, who also chairs the District Health Taskforce, issued the order in alignment with recent directives from the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry had called for the temporary suspension of market activities in high-risk border districts, including Kasese for four weeks, to mitigate the risk of cross-border transmission of ebola from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking to our reporter, Lt. Walusimbi emphasized that the directive is a necessary preventive measure.
He noted that the overcrowded nature of the market, combined with the constant movement of people across the border, creates a high-risk environment for an outbreak and therefore they can’t risk leaving the market open.
The Town Clerk of Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town Council, Mr. Moses Mugisa, has been on the ground sensitizing vendors about the Ministry of Health’s guidelines, urging them to prioritize health over making money.
Despite the warnings, the directive has met stiff resistance from the local business community and market vendors. Many traders have expressed doubt regarding the presence of Ebola in the DRC, labeling the reports as exaggerated.
The vendors have insisted that they will continue with business as usual, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with law enforcement and health officials.
Observations at the Mpondwe market highlight a worrying lack of preparedness. There is a visible absence of hand-washing facilities, and social distancing is non-existent within the congested lanes.
Residents are waiting to see how the government will enforce the Ministry of Health’s directives in the face of community defiance. For now, the gates of Mpondwe Lhubiriha market remain a flashpoint between public health safety and economic survival.
