A chartered Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft delivered 18 brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to Uganda on Wednesday evening, adding to two similar vehicles that arrived from Dubai two weeks earlier. The fleet is destined for the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to strengthen the ongoing Ebola response in Bunia, Ituri Province.
The vehicles, donated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), were received through Entebbe International Airport before being transported overland to eastern DRC.
They were received by Irene Nakasiita, Director of Communications, Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships at the Uganda Red Cross Society, on behalf of the humanitarian organisation.
Nakasiita said the donation would significantly strengthen Ebola response efforts in eastern DRC and complement ongoing cross-border disease prevention initiatives.
“The Uganda Red Cross Society is already supporting efforts to contain Ebola in the DRC. This fleet will reinforce response activities both at the Uganda-DRC border and within the affected communities in eastern DRC,” she said. The vehicles are expected to be transported to the DRC through the Ntoroko border crossing.
Nathan Kimani, the IFRC’s regional fleet representative for Africa, said Entebbe was selected as the closest and most practical entry point for the humanitarian consignment.
“Five of the vehicles have been specially configured for the safe and dignified transportation of Ebola victims for burial, while the rest will support the movement of medical personnel, volunteers and essential supplies in efforts to contain the outbreak,” Kimani explained.
He commended the Uganda Red Cross Society for facilitating the safe transit of the donated fleet into the DRC. Although the DRC continues to battle the Ebola outbreak, Uganda has not reported any new confirmed cases.
Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, remains under pressure from limited access to healthcare, clean water and other essential services. More than 500 people have died since the latest Ebola outbreak was declared in May. The outbreak has been concentrated in Ituri Province, where insecurity, population displacement and weak public health infrastructure have complicated response efforts.
The delivery of the vehicle fleet highlights the importance of regional cooperation in responding to public health emergencies. Uganda serves as a key humanitarian and logistical corridor for relief operations into eastern DRC because of its proximity to Ituri Province and relatively developed transport infrastructure.
The vehicles are expected to improve mobility for frontline responders, accelerate the delivery of medical supplies and support safe burials, which are critical to limiting Ebola transmission.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC occurred in a region affected by decades of armed conflict, displacement and under-resourced health services, making containment particularly difficult. Humanitarian agencies, including the IFRC and national Red Cross societies, have played a central role in community engagement, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, and logistical support.
Uganda has remained on high alert because of its shared border with the DRC, strengthening surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent cross-border transmission.
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