Uganda Opens Airport, Land Borders After 6-Month Lockdown

On 20^th September 2020 H.E. Y.K Museveni while addressing the country on government measures to curb the spread of coronavirus okayed re-opening of Entebbe International Airport and land borders after 6-month lockdown. In his report, international tourists on Uganda safari holiday can now travel to enjoy the country’s natural wonders provided they test negative of covid-19.

Tourists on the Uganda safari tour should have carried out the covid-19 test 72 hours prior to the departure flight from their home countries to Entebbe Airport. The returning nationals from abroad with negative Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) results shall be accepted to go home but the Health Ministry will get their contacts for follow-up purposes. In addition, visitors/travelers/tourists will be picked up straight from the airport and transferred to their tourist destinations or to designated transit hotels. However, tourists and returning nationals won’t be allowed to mix and this will be done in accordance with the set safety measures.

Commercial/International flights in Entebbe International Airport were suspended from March as one of the measures to limit the widespread of covid-19. Only cargo, evacuation, and repatriation flights were left operating. It should be noted that outbreak of covid-19 has heavily impacted the tourism sector the fact that the sector largely depends on aviation. The international travel will resume on 1^st October 2020 after 6 months of closure.

There exist a number of airlines offering flight services to Uganda and they include Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, Fly Dubai, Ethiopia airlines, RwandAir, Tarco Aviation, KLM, Brussels Airlines, Uganda Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Emirates. With the airport now open to tourists, flight services are expected to resume soon by these airlines and according to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, about 13 flights to and fro Entebbe Airport have so far been cleared for the first day and 10 flights have been confirmed for the second day.

Other places that have been re-opened besides the airport and land borders include Churches but strictly 70 people shall be allowed to attend a service, schools but only candidates shall report, universities and other tertiary institutions but only finalists will report.