Uganda, famously known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is a popular destination for wildlife safaris enthusiasts. Among the popular experiences are the gorilla viewing and chimpanzee trekking, game drives in savannah parks. With the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic, the government of Uganda has introduced several control measures to ameliorate the Covid 19 situation thus controlling the transmission of human infections to the mammals such as the primates in the wild.
Public health authorities in Uganda are maintaining mandatory testing for covid-19 for all passengers arriving at Entebbe – the main international airport. Despite curbing down the spread of the virus and vaccination of over 3 million Ugandans, there is still a high risk of importation of new variants through main points of entry into the country including Entebbe airport according to the Ministry of Health. Inevitably, officials require all passengers coming to Uganda regardless of vaccination status to undergo mandatory covid-19 testing on arrival albeit having a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Children below 6 years are exempt and the covid-19 PCR test cost is $30 per person (non-refundable). The fee can conveniently be paid online or on arrival using visa cards, mobile money service and cash at the Post Bank stalls at the airport. Those visiting Uganda for safaris have a special tourism desk at Entebbe airport managed by Uganda Tourism Board. The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) has put measures in place to capture details of incoming travelers ahead of their arrival making it easier to come to Uganda through the airport. Furthermore, the government of Uganda continues to conduct covid-19 health screenings includin body temperature scans among others.
When the inspection has been completed, visitors proceed through the immigration and customs stands to wait for their luggage to be examined. From there, passengers are guided by staff to exit the airport terminal and go to the waiting area until their results ready in 2 hours and 30 minutes or less from the time when the sample was collected. Passengers are notified by SMS while monitor screens in the waiting area are used to broadcast results. Based on results, those with negative PCR test shall be allowed to proceed to their respective destinations in Uganda. Passengers with a positive test result shall be quarantined for 7 days at a government-designated facility free of service or private property at their own cost. Those who will be found asymptomatic (individuals with confirmed positive result test but showing slight signs of covid-19) will be taken to designated tourist hotels in Entebbe town. After quarantine period, before release from the facility, all arrivals must get a negative covid-19 test result. On the other hand, those departing through Entebbe airport are required to show a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to the boarding flight.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda (CAA) which manages flights in Uganda and the Uganda Tourism Board airport desk advises travelers visiting Uganda for their safaris to cater for additional travel time and expenses due to the airport procedures mentioned above.
In the past, all inbound and outbound passengers would be allowed to proceed to their next destinations without subjecting them to another Covid 19 test. However, out of experience, it is now evident, at least 3% have been consistently proved to Covid 19 positive. Thus the government of Uganda decided to have everyone getting through Entebbe airport subjected to this test. The challenge now is the capacity of the airport infrastructure handling the big of passengers within time. This airport is undergoing expansion. A lot of construction works are going on and thus the space where tents are mounted is very small making it impossible to accommodate more than 30 of them. This has made the situation relatively complex.
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