Five PCR covid testing machines have been procured by government for mandatory testing at Entebe International airpot of incoming passengers.
The President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta T. Museveni, officially launched the COVID-
19 laboratories to be used for mandatory Covid-19 testing of all incoming passengers through
Entebbe International Airport on Friday, October 22, 2021 at a function held at the new terminal
extension.
“The Ministry of Health set up the testing laboratories at the airport and trained laboratory
technicians, data entrants and all the other port-health staff to manage the process”. Mpuga Lugya, manager public affairs, Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The turnaround
time for the mandatory COVID-19 test results will be reduced from four hours to two hours and
fifteen minutes.
Five PCR test machines with capacity to test 300 samples per hour are in place at Entebbe International Airport. The facility has the capacity to test 3,600 passengers in 12 hours and 7,200 passengers in 24 hours.
Earlier on, Rt. Hon. Nabbanja informed stakeholders at meeting held on Thursday, October 21,
2021 that the measure is intended to curb further importation of the deadly variants of the
coronavirus into the country. It is also to abet further spread of the disease and guard against the
third wave. The country has previously been testing only passengers from high-risk countries.
Government reduced the cost of a COVID-19 test a few months ago from 65 US Dollars to 30 US Dollars currently. The
transfer of testing laboratories from Peniel Beach where private laboratories were operating to
Entebbe International Airport under government was intended to improve on the passenger facilitation process to ensure efficient service delivery.
