Uganda Civil Aviation Authority directives for resumption of international flights
The Muzungu writes: Entebbe International Airport is open again. Many Ugandans and expats have been returning to Uganda and they report that the COVID-19 protocols at Entebbe Airport are generally working well. The official statement from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority below raises a few questions so do note everything is subject to change. There is no quarantine now unless you arrive with symptoms. Self-isolation is recommended option now for majority of positive COVID-19 cases.
UPDATE May 2021: travel remains subject to change so I draw your attention to the comments below this blog post. At the time of writing, flights from India to Uganda are banned. Numerous countries are required to have an additional PCR test on arrival in Uganda.
UPDATE November 2021: I am regularly updating the blog post Latest COVID-19 health measures at Entebbe International Airport so if you are travelling soon, please bookmark that page.
This is the official statement. First published October 4 2020 by Tony Ofungi
Ahead of the resumption of all scheduled and non-scheduled passenger flights in and out of Entebbe on 1st October, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Republic of Uganda issued directives regarding the resumption of international flights.They were contained in a letter signed off by Fred Bamwesigye Ag. Director-General, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority as follows:
1. All arriving passengers on international flights 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; have negative PCR based COVID – 19 test carried out within 72 hours before travel shall be exempt from quarantine.
NOTE December 2020: the PCR test period has a longer window now: it must be carried out within 120 hours of touchdown at Entebbe (not 72 hours).
i. For passengers presenting with symptoms at Entebbe International Airport without a test result, a sample will be collected upon arrival and the individual is required to quarantine at his / her cost until the result is returned. The sample will be tested at the individual’s cost.
ii. Testing of any of the recent travelers will be symptom-based, in the event that they develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
iii. Contacts to recent travelers that develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and tested if symptomatic. The contacts that are in the high-risk category will be prioritized for testing to ensure early diagnosis and management.
iv. The most vulnerable individuals will be prioritised for tracking, testing and care if infected.
v. Self-isolation and self-management, under well-defined Standard Operating Procedures and clear referral pathways will be instituted for the asymptomatic non-high-risk individuals.
vi. Health facility-based isolation and care will be preserved for the moderately, severely and critically ill case-patients.
vii. Consideration will be made for auxiliary non-health facility-based isolation and management of mild cases especially among the high-risk categories.
2. All crew shall be exempt from quarantine after operating any flight if they have negative PCR based COVID – 19 test carried out within 14 days before travel, their body temperature is not above 37.5° C (99.5°F); do not exhibit symptoms of COVID–19 and there is no suspected case of COVID-19 on their flight. With a suspected case of COVID-19 on the flight, the crew shall be quarantined at home or designated facility. If results are negative they shall be allowed to resume normal duties.
3. Air operators shall be responsible for ensuring: the passengers are tested prior to travel; proper screening; medical briefing and reporting any cases to the relevant authorities.
4. Passengers traveling out of Uganda will be required to have an Authentic Valid Negative PCR test Certificate and abide by the particular travel, health and COVID-19 related requirements of the Destination Country.
5. Passengers arriving on flights after the curfew, with a valid Air Ticket and Boarding Pass shall be allowed to proceed to their hotels and/or residences.
6. Drivers should have evidence that they have come from Entebbe Airport to drop or pick up passengers.
7. Passengers departing on flights after the curfew, with a valid Air Ticket and Boarding Pass shall be allowed to proceed to their departure airport.
8. Air Operators shall provide guidance material to passengers regarding the application of the preventive measures on board.
9. Where physical distancing cannot be guaranteed because of the seat configuration or other operational constraints, the crew members will make constant on-board announcements reminding passengers to adhere at all times to all the other preventive measures including strict hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and should wear a surgical face mask. In addition, other measures such as cabin high-efficiency particulate filters (HEPA) where available will be employed.
10. Uganda Civil Aviation Authority is reviewing the frequency and timing of flights to facilitate physical distancing at Entebbe International Airport. So far only 12 airlines have resumed operations including Turkish, RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Tarco Air, FlyDubai and Kenya Airways.
Related blogs you may find useful:
When can I travel to Uganda? post-lockdown FAQs based on Qs and As with travelers. September 2020
Coronavirus survival tips: how to work from home based on a decade working from home in Uganda.
Bracing ourselves for Coronavirus in Uganda comprehensive health advice, updated regularly.
Uganda tourist visas – apply online or buy on arrival at Entebbe Airport.
The Muzungu adds: I’m in daily contact with travelers and the tourism industry and am always happy to answer your questions. Contact me or post your questions here in the comments so other travelers can benefit from our experiences and knowledge.
23 arrested at Entebbe Airport with fake COVID-19 certificates – NTV News, 18 October 2020
Well, we always guessed people were going to try to dodge the system ♀️ but it’s reassuring to know that the Ministry of Health has a central system that records all the authentic PCR (COVID) certificates.
“23 people have been arrested by aviation police at Entebbe airport for attempting to fly out of the country with fake COVID-19 results certificates. The 23 who are both Uganda and foreign nationals are currently detained at Entebbe international airport. The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson says they will be charged in courts on Monday. Following today’s arrests, Aviation Health authorities have also revealed that diplomats and senior government officials are some of the travellers that occasionally refused to present COVID-19 certificates. #NTVNews #NTVTonight #NTVWeekendEdition
Love this Airport, Good job from a beautiful woman.
Keep it up dearie.
Thank you 🙂
Read aviation expert Prof. Wolfgang Thome’s detailed personal experience traveling from Entebbe Airport this October.
Entebbe International Airport, Uganda: travel in ‘the new normal’
Kampala 23 November 2020
Notice to all travellers around Covid 19 tests
The Ministry of Health like to inform individuals intending to travel out of Uganda that they are required to pay for Covid-19 test. Henceforth all Covid-19 certificates for travellers must indicate TRAVEL as the intended purpose of the test.
All intending travellers who would like to test at government facilities are required to pay 180,000 Uganda shillings. Payment can be made Stanbic Bank. See attached screenshot.
Note that you are required to have a Covid-19 negative certificate taken within 120 hours before departure and NOT within 72 hours as has been the case until now.
Can I travel to Uganda by car at the border?
Hi Philomena. All road borders to Rwanda are closed, unless you are a returning citizen or resident. Cargo trucks are crossing the border but have to undergo quarantine before entering the country.
Next week I will publish a blog about travel to Rwanda during COVID. If you’d like to receive an update when that blog goes live, click here and sign up to my free email newsletter.
On 30th April Ministry of Health issued a long press release “Update on COVID-19 pandemic” which you can read here.
In summary, all flights from India are suspended until further notice. All travelers who may have been in India or travelled through India in the last 14 days regardless of route taken shall not be allowed into Uganda
*NEW* If you are traveling to Uganda from UK, USA, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Tanzania (what MOH call Category 2 countries) then you will need to have a PCR #COVID-19 test at the border or Entebbe International Airport. (This applies to Ugandan nationals too). The traveller covers the cost of the #COVID-19 test on arrival. Expect to pay $65 (max).
Individuals in Category 2 and 3 countries who have received their full COVID-19 vaccination and are asymptomatic will be allowed into Uganda without the need for testing on arrival.
The MOH press release also details regions with highest infection rates and progress with the Coronavirus vaccination programme.
On 5th May 2021 Uganda’s Ministry of Health issued another statement in which Kenya was added to the Category 2 countries. What a bummer! I have a trip to Kenya planned. Without being vaccinated, I would need to have three tests:
– 1 PCR test to travel to Kenya
– 1 PCR test to travel back into Uganda
– 1 PCR test on arrival at Entebbe.
The cost of travel has significantly increased! Thankfully I will have had my second AstraZenecca test before I travel so I don’t think I will need to have the third test. I shall keep you posted!
Below is some feedback from someone who travelled through Entebbe International Airport this May 2021.
After you pass through immigration, you will be asked where you started your trip from. If the answer is one of the Category Two countries and you are not vaccinated, you will be taken by bus to a testing site. There are ten of these and I believe they are all hotels. This traveller was taken for testing at Peniel Beach Hotel where she paid 65 USD / 60 Euros or Uganda shillings equivalent for the PCR test. She reported that there was an ATM at the hotel. (Not all hotels will have facilities for withdrawal cash so I suggest you carry it with you always draw it at Entebbe International Airport, if you can).
After the swab for the PCR test was taken, she waited 1.5 hours at the hotel and was able to use Wi-Fi and buy drinks and snacks. She reported a turnaround of two hours and 15 minutes from leaving the airport to getting negative result and leaving the test centre (hotel).
I understand that hotels are being used as test sites since some people may choose to check-in for one night. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will have to quarantine at your own expense.
Statement from the Ministry of Health, Uganda May 10 2021 regarding Category 2 countries, COVID-19 PCR tests and vaccinations.
https://www.muzungubloguganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Ministry-of-Health-COVID-19-tests-vaccinations.-Uganda-May-10-2021.jpg