Uganda Starts Mandatory Covid-19 Testing For all Arriving Travelers

After the launch of the new Covid-19 testing center by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Uganda is set to start testing all visitors coming in at various points. The exercise will start at Entebbe airport but arrangements are under process to make it exist at other entry points.

Regardless of the vaccination status and country of origin, all travelers to Uganda will test for Covid-19 starting on 26/October/2021.

The center has five PCR test machines with a capacity to test 300 samples per hour. Moreover, the facility handles about 3600 passengers in twelve hours and 7200 passengers in twenty-four hours.

At first, only travelers from high-risk countries (USA, UAE, South Africa, Turkey, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, India, UK, and Ethiopia) were testing but it is now for everyone including children above six years.

The price for the PCR is reduced from 65 USD to 30 USD per person. It is advised to pay in advance by using the ministry of health online platform. If not that you can make the payment to the post bank kiosks on arrival.

Other requirements for arriving travelers include a valid passport, visa, yellow fever card, and the negative PCR test done within 72 hours from the time of sample collection. Once at the airport you go through the screening machine up to the testing center.

After taking a swab you wait for a maximum of two hours to get your results. These results are sent to you by text message or WhatsApp.

Tourists will receive special treatment. Ministry of Health indicated that there is a special tent for tourists and VIPs. The provision is meant to avoid inconvenience to those who are visiting the country majorly for tourism.

Tourists are allowed to proceed to the hotels after taking their samples and wait for the results from there. With this in place, Tom Butime, the minister for tourism advised tourists not to cancel their travel plans. The process is favorable.

Testing points

Entebbe Airport

Located 47 kilometers from the capital, EBB airport is the gateway for all people who are traveling to Uganda by plane.

It welcomes visitors from various parts of the World per day including Europe. From this facility, you get to Kampala by the taxicab or other options like pick up by a friend or relatives.

Land border points

Uganda has numerous borders which connect to other countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The list includes Malaba, Busia, Mutukula, Katuna, Cyanika, Bunagana and Elegu border.