In a statement, RDB said that “Rwanda remains open for tourism, meetings, business activities, national parks, hotels, conference venues and tourism-related services, all of which continue to operate normally while observing health measures.”
The agency added that “visitors to Rwanda are encouraged to enjoy their planned activities with confidence while also complying with the health guidelines in place.”
Rwanda further assured the public that it has a capable health system that is closely monitoring developments related to the outbreak and remains fully prepared to prevent the spread of Ebola.
The country also emphasized that it is working with regional and international partners to safeguard the health of residents and wildlife.
As part of preventive measures, RDB said that health screening has been strengthened at Rwanda’s borders, including at Kigali International Airport, where travelers entering and leaving the country are being screened.
The government also reiterated that foreign nationals who have passed through the Democratic Republic of Congo within the past 30 days are not allowed to enter Rwanda. Rwandan citizens and residents are permitted to return home, but those who have recently been in the DRC within the last 30 days will be placed under quarantine.
Tourism and conference hosting remain among Rwanda’s leading sources of foreign exchange earnings.
Tourism revenue reached 685 million dollars in 2025, up from 647 million dollars recorded in 2024, representing a 6% increase.
The number of visitors to Rwanda also rose by 9% in 2025, reaching 1.49 million tourists. Many visited Volcanoes National Park, which is famous for mountain gorillas, along with other national parks.
Revenue generated from conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs increased to 94.7 million dollars in 2025, compared to 84.8 million dollars in 2024, marking an 11% rise.
The Ebola strain Rwanda is closely monitoring was first detected in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo before spreading to Uganda. The strain is known as Bundibugyo.
Overall, the outbreak has claimed 221 lives, while more than 900 suspected cases have been reported.
Despite the regional outbreak, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Health, Yvan Butera, recently confirmed that no Ebola cases have been detected in Rwanda.
“In May this year, an Ebola outbreak emerged in our region, particularly in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is not the first time Ebola has appeared in the region, as similar outbreaks have occurred in previous years,” he said.
“This year, the outbreak began in the DRC, and so far five cases have also been confirmed in Uganda. In Rwanda, however, there is no Ebola patient and the disease is not present in the country. Nevertheless, when a disease such as Ebola appears in the region, preventive measures become necessary, and these measures have already been implemented across the country and at border points.”
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was first identified in Uganda between 2007 and 2008, infecting 149 people and killing 37. In 2012, it resurfaced in Isiro in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 57 people were infected and 29 died.
