There was chaos at the Elegu Border Point on the Uganda-South Sudan border in Amuru District yesterday afternoon after residents stormed a health facility and forcibly retrieved the body of a 35-year-old man who died with Ebola like symptoms.
The deceased, identified as Fadil Miraci, reportedly died at around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday after presenting with symptoms consistent with Ebola, including fever and bleeding, according to local leaders.
According to local, Miraci, a well-known motor vehicle mechanic in Elegu Town Council, had sought treatment at Zam Zam Drug Shop in Loriko West Village before his condition deteriorated.
Reliable information indicates that after Miraci’s death, a nurse at the facility became concerned about his symptoms and alerted health officials and security personnel at the busy border post.
The facility was subsequently cordoned off as authorities awaited laboratory results from samples collected from the deceased.
The body remained inside the facility, triggering fear and anxiety among residents, many of whom gathered around the premises demanding answers.
At about 1:00 p.m. yesterday, a group of angry residents stormed the health facility, overpowered security personnel, and carried away the body before the test results were released.
Patrick Louis Lamot, the Focal Person for Port Health at Elegu Border, confirms the incident in an interview with Favour fm.
Kasim Akule, the LC I Chairperson of Loriko West Village, confirms Miraci’s death but denied knowledge of the raid on the health facility.
Amuru District Police Commander Alfred Baluku says security agencies would intensify community sensitization efforts following the incident to raise awareness about the dangers of handling bodies of suspected Ebola victims.
Uganda has so far recorded 10 confirmed Ebola cases and one death, with three of the cases reportedly linked to infections imported from the outbreak epicenter in the neighboring DRC.
By Justine Muboka
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