Mandatory Covid19 testing for foreign travellers in Ugands halted

on Thursday, an inter-ministerial committee engaged with several stakeholders and it was agreed that the testing that would have started today be suspended for two weeks.

As part of the directive, despite showing negative Coronavirus test results done 72 hours prior to departure or upon arrival at Uganda’s entry points, travellers were required to do a mandatory Covid test at their own cost.

Photo: getty images

However, after the Thursday inter-ministerial meeting, it was agreed that all travellers arriving from India will still be subjected to mandatory PCR testing at their own cost regardless of their vaccination status.

“The mandatory testing of all incoming travellers at Entebbe International Airport and other points of entry has been postponed for 2 weeks, following an inter-ministerial committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister,” the Ministry of Health spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona said on Thursday evening.

As part of the directive, despite showing negative Coronavirus test results done 72 hours prior to departure or upon arrival at Uganda’s entry points, travellers were required to do a mandatory Covid test at their own cost.

However, after the Thursday inter-ministerial meeting, it was agreed that all travellers arriving from India will still be subjected to mandatory PCR testing at their own cost regardless of their vaccination status.

“All incoming travelers from other category 2 countries which include: Kenya, Tanzania, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Tanzania will undergo mandatory PCR testing.

However if one is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, there is no need for testing on arrival,” the ministry said.

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Muwanga Deo

About the Author: Muwanga Deo

I am a journalist by profession having worked with former Record Television in 2019 and a current affairs news writer since 2019 to-date