The Ministry of Health has advised that mourners from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will not be allowed to attend the burial of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV of Tooro.

The advisory comes as Tooro prepares to receive thousands of mourners for the funeral of the 34-year-old king, who died after battling a rare form of brain cancer.

Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, said the ministry expects a large influx of mourners, including subjects of the Tooro Kingdom living in eastern DRC, where an Ebola outbreak is currently ongoing.

The king will be laid to rest on 12 September at Karambi Royal Tombs.

Since his body arrived at Entebbe Airport on Friday, crowds have gathered both along the route and at the palace in Fort Portal City to welcome the remains.

Tooro Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomire said that the kingdom anticipates mourners from around the world, including kings from Nigeria, DRC and Eswatini who have already indicated their intention to attend.

However, the Health Ministry advisory states that no mourners from eastern DRC will be permitted to travel.

“The Uganda – DRC border remains closed and travel remains restricted,” the document reads.

It adds that an official link will be provided through Government of Uganda channels to allow subjects of the late king in the DRC and elsewhere to follow the burial proceedings virtually.

Uganda currently has no active Ebola cases.

The country was declared Ebola-free weeks ago by the World Health Organization after completing 42 days without a new case.

Twenty cases were recorded in an outbreak announced in May.

That outbreak began with an imported case from the DRC that was treated at a private hospital in Kampala.Olaro said that even without active cases, Uganda remains under active surveillance to prevent another spillover.