After a meeting that took place on 21st October, 2021, it was decided by the government of Uganda to start mandatory testing at the airport. The directives will be effected starting on October 27, 2021 until further notice on any new COVID-19 health measures. The guidelines are as follows and include the COVID-19 Health measures at the Entebbe International Airport.
- All arriving passengers at Entebbe International Airport will be subjected to COVID-19 test, regardless of country of origin or vaccination status. The only exemptions are; Children below 6 years and Airline crew with evidence of full COVID-19 vaccination.
- Passengers who test positive for COVID-19 on arrival will be provided psychological support and transferred to the gazetted public and private treatment facilities where they will be managed for 7 days and discharged on a negative PCR test. The treatment for these passengers will be free in the Public Hospitals. However, Passengers who opt for Private Hospitals will meet their costs.
- In the case of arriving tourists, if they are asymptomatic or with mild disease, they will be managed in the designated tourists Hotels. The tourists who progress to severe disease will be transferred to the hospitals of their choice.
- Arriving passengers will pay USD 30 or the equivalent in Uganda Shillings for the COVID-19 PCR test. The Payments may be done online or on arrival using Point Of Sales machines, mobile money or cash.
- All travelers whose body temperature is NOT above 37.5° C (99.5°F), do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms shall be allowed to enter or depart Uganda.
- Entebbe International Airport Port Health shall approve for arrival or departure a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate undertaken within 72 hours from the time of sample collection. This excludes transit time at the terminal building.
- Travellers who have had COVID-19 vaccination and hold certificate must still present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate taken within 72 hours from the time of sample collection to boarding aircraft. This is because the vaccine is not 100% protective, and it also takes several days/weeks to begin protection.
- Passengers travelling out of the country, will be required to have negative COVID-19 PCR test Certificate taken within 72 hours from the time of sample collection. They will abide by the health travel requirements of the destination country.
- Passengers arriving in the curfew time, and/or from districts beyond Kampala with a valid Air Ticket and Boarding Pass shall be allowed to proceed to their hotels and/or residences. Passengers departing in the curfew time, and/or from districts beyond Kampala with a valid air ticket shall be allowed to proceed to their destination airport by presentation of the passenger ticket to the authorities as evidence of going to the airport.
Summary.
On arrival, the health officials placed at the airport will collect samples from tourists, who will be separated from the rest of the people. After sample collection, tourists will be guided to the tourism lounge for identification and verification before being sent off to meet tour operators. The tour operator is then responsible for taking them to the hotel from where they would wait for the results before proceeding with the trip.
There is currently no information on the particular hotels tourists are supposed to stay in while waiting for the results. You will be required to fill in the PCR booking form on this link below before arrival. Please remember to come with a copy!
https://arrivals.healthdesk.go.ug
At Ellington safaris, we are fully aware of the entire process and assure you that all is well; you will be safe and your safari will go on well. We can’t wait to take you on the true African experience for a lifetime of memories!