Latest News: Authorities announce new COVID-19 restrictions as cases increase (Xinhua, 01.05.2021). Uganda's government suspends flights from India from 1 May until further notice because of COVID-19 (Bloomberg, 30.04.2021).
International Restrictions:
*Entry to Uganda: Land borders are open and commercial flights are operating. New COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) are in place for arriving and departing passengers.
From 8 May 2021 all travellers from the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are required to undergo PCR testing at the border at their own expense, including at Entebbe International Airport, unless they have received their full COVID-19 vaccination and show no COVID-19 symptoms. The cost of the PCR test will be up $65. Travellers from the above countries will be taken from the airport to a nearby testing site. Test results will take up to 4 hours. Travellers have the option of waiting at the testing site for their results or checking into a designated hotel at their own expense. Anyone who tests positive (including children) will be taken to a Ministry of Health designated COVID-19 isolation facility. As of 2 May 2021, passengers who have been in India in the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Uganda.
Passengers arriving or departing from Entebbe International Airport can only be picked up or dropped off by a maximum of two people, including the driver, in order to avoid crowding. Vehicles with more than the authorised number of people will not be allowed access to the airport.
You should arrange to take a private test.
*Testing/Screening on arrival: Arriving passengers will be subject to temperature checks and will be screened for infectious diseases by the Port Health authorities. If a passengers shows signs or symptoms of any infectious disease they will taken by ambulance to a local isolation centre to undergo a COVID-19 test at their own cost. Test results will be returned within 24 to 48 hours; passengers will be expected to remain at the isolation centre until the test results are returned. If a foreign national tests positive for COVID-19 and wishes to be repatriated for treatment outside of Uganda, they will be expected to cover the costs themselves.
*Testing / screening on departure: Departing passengers are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate, issued no more than 120 hours before travel. The 120 hours begins on the day the sample is collected for testing.
COVID-19 tests taken for the purpose of travel outside of Uganda have to be paid for, even if the test is taken at a government testing centre. From 23 November 2020, all COVID-19 test certificates issued in Uganda must indicate the intended purpose of the test. Only test certificates which state travel as the intended purpose will be valid for departure from Uganda. Test certificates which state contact or alert will not be valid for travel.
There are a number of public and private COVID-19 test centres in Uganda. For further information, please see the government COVID-19 Response website.
Departing passengers will be required to wear a face mask inside the terminal and will be subject to temperature checks. Social distancing will also be in place and only passengers with valid tickets and airport officials will be allowed into the terminal building. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before departure.
Passengers travelling on flights departing during curfew hours (9pm to 6am) will be allowed to travel to the airport upon presentation of a valid ticket.
Internal Restrictions:
*Travel in Uganda: It is mandatory for everyone aged 6 or above to wear a face mask when outside your house. Further guidance is available from the Ministry of Health website.
A curfew remains in place from 9pm to 5.30am. Passengers travelling on flights departing during curfew hours (9pm to 5.30am) will be allowed to travel to the airport upon presentation of a valid ticket.
Movement by personal vehicles is now permitted in all districts, including those with an international border, but is still limited to 4 people per car (including the driver) and all must wear masks if there is more than one person in the vehicle.
Travel by public transport (including minibus taxis, buses, coaches, passenger trains) is now allowed. Tuk tuks and boda bodas (motorbike taxis) are allowed to carry passengers, but must stop operating by 6pm.
*Accommodation: Hotels and restaurants are open with social distancing measures in place and food delivery services remain operational outside of curfew hours.
*Public places and services: Meetings and gatherings of up to 200 people are allowed (including political rallies) but participants must maintain a social distance of 2 metres in all directions at all times and masks must be worn. Shopping malls, arcades, supermarkets, pharmacies, hairdressers and salons are open. From 14 November, cinemas, casinos, gaming centres and gyms are allowed to open as long as appropriate social distancing measures are in place. Opening hours for casinos and gaming centres are restricted to 6:30am to 7pm. Bars remain closed.
Places of worship are open but should not exceed 200 people and social distancing measures and mask wearing must be in place. Open air sports are allowed without spectators.