Uganda’s Python Cave exposes systemic drivers of Marburg spillover: unregulated tourism, colonial conservation, and bat-human interface failures

Indigenous communities in Uganda and Central Africa have long-standing relationships with bat habitats, including taboos, seasonal hunting restrictions, and ecological knowledge that minimize spillover risks. These practices are rooted in deep observation of bat behavior and seasonal migrations, yet they are dismissed as 'superstition' in favor of Western biosurveillance. Integrating Indigenous knowledge could improve early warning systems and reduce human-bat conflict. The exclusion of these perspectives reflects a broader pattern of epistemic injustice in global health.

Colonial-era conservation policies in Uganda, such as the establishment of national parks and strict access controls, disrupted traditional ecological practices and displaced Indigenous communities from bat habitats. These policies often prioritized wildlife protection over human livelihoods, creating unintended spillover risks. The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 in Germany and Yugoslavia, linked to African green monkeys exported from Uganda—highlighting a long history of zoonotic spillovers tied to colonial trade routes. Structural neglect of bat habitats since independence has exacerbated these risks.

In Southeast Asia, bat guano harvesting is often governed by community-led seasonal restrictions to reduce spillover risks, contrasting with Uganda’s unregulated tourism in Python Cave. Similarly, in Latin America, Indigenous groups use controlled burning and agroforestry to manage bat habitats and reduce disease risks. These cross-cultural practices demonstrate that spillover is not inevitable but shaped by governance and cultural norms. However, global health frameworks rarely incorporate these diverse approaches.

Marburg virus spillover is driven by ecological disruption, human encroachment into bat habitats, and lack of biosafety protocols—factors well-documented in virology and One Health research. Studies show that Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) are primary reservoirs, but human activities like mining, tourism, and deforestation increase spillover risks. Current surveillance often focuses on reactive case detection rather than proactive ecological monitoring. The scientific community acknowledges the need for interdisciplinary approaches but struggles to integrate local knowledge.

In many African traditions, bats are seen as messengers between the living and the dead, or as symbols of adaptability and resilience. Rituals and taboos around bat consumption and cave access serve as informal biosafety measures, though these are rarely acknowledged in scientific discourse. Artistic expressions, such as oral poetry and proverbs, encode ecological wisdom about bat behavior and disease patterns. Ignoring these dimensions risks losing nuanced, culturally embedded risk mitigation strategies.

Future spillover risks in Python Cave and similar sites can be modeled by integrating ecological disruption, tourism pressure, and climate change projections. Scenario planning should include 'no-intervention' baselines to highlight the costs of inaction, as well as 'community-led conservation' pathways. Climate change is expected to expand bat ranges, increasing overlap with human settlements and tourism hotspots. Without adaptive governance, spillover events may become more frequent and severe.

Local bat hunters, tour guides, and cave-dwelling communities are the most affected by Marburg spillover risks but are excluded from decision-making. Their knowledge of bat behavior and cave ecology is often dismissed in favor of Western scientific expertise. Women, who are primary caregivers during outbreaks, face disproportionate burdens yet lack representation in outbreak response planning. Marginalized voices also include informal miners and tourism workers who lack protective gear or training.