Uganda and Rwanda are set to conduct a joint cross-border health preparedness exercise at the Katuna/Gatuna One Stop Border Post, as the two neighbours test their ability to respond together to public health emergencies.

The three-day simulation exercise will run from 10 to 12 November 2026, Uganda's Ministry of Health announced on Sunday. It is organised by the two countries' ministries of health in collaboration with development partners.

The exercise will test coordination, information-sharing and referral systems among health authorities and other agencies operating at the border. It will use simulated emergency scenarios to assess how effectively the two countries can collaborate in detecting, managing and responding to potential public health threats.

Strengthening health security

Prof. Charles Olaro, Uganda's Director General of Health Services, said the exercise forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Uganda's health security and improve preparedness for emergencies that could affect communities and travellers across the border.

The drills will walk border teams through the full chain of a response: spotting a traveller showing symptoms at screening, isolating the person safely, alerting the other side's health officials, and referring the patient to a health facility, with each step timed and reviewed. Communication lines between the two ministries, the border agencies and the development partners supporting the exercise will be tested alongside the clinical steps, so that a real alert would not stall on a missed phone call or an unclear handover.

The ministry said members of the public and travellers using the border may witness organised drills involving health workers and other border agencies during the exercise. Olaro clarified that the activities are planned simulations and should not be mistaken for an actual public health emergency.

The exercise is also intended to strengthen public health protection while ensuring the smooth movement of people and goods between Uganda and Rwanda. Travellers and communities living around the border have been urged to cooperate with participating teams and follow guidance issued by officials throughout the exercise.

A busy crossing

Katuna, known as Gatuna on the Rwandan side, is one of the busiest crossings between the two countries and a key route for traders and travellers. The two governments have worked in recent years to ease movement at the border after periods of tension and closure, and the joint exercise is the latest step in rebuilding practical cooperation between their health and border agencies.

The Ministry of Health also acknowledged the contributions of health workers, development partners, security agencies and other stakeholders in strengthening Uganda's preparedness and response to public health emergencies.