COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Uganda (12 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter the country.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter the country.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Arriving passengers will undergo health screening and have their temperature checked. Passengers showing signs or symptoms of any infectious disease will be taken to an isolation centre to undergo a COVID-19 test at their own expense and remain there until they receive their test report which can take 24 to 48 hours.

• Airline crews are also subject to medical screening.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• A COVID-19 PCR test certificate for a test conducted in a different country is accepted.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• All arriving passengers must provide a certificate for a negative COVID-19 PCR test performed at an accredited health facility and no more than 120 hours before departure. Travellers will be required to present their test results to the airline to receive confirmation of their flight booking and to board their flight. Foreign nationals without a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate will be denied entry into the country. The 120 hours begins on the day the sample is collected for testing.

• Infants below the age of three are exempt and are permitted to travel through Entebbe airport without a negative PCR test certificate.

• Departing passengers are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate, issued no more than 120 hours before travel.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Arriving foreign nationals who have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done by an accredited laboratory will not be required to undergo mandatory quarantine unless they exhibit signs or symptoms of any infectious disease. However, travellers displaying symptoms of any infectious disease will be moved to an isolation centre and must remain there until the results of the COVID-19 test are known.

• Returning Ugandan citizens with a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate will be allowed to return home. It is not yet clear whether they will have to self-isolate at their home for 14 days.

• Airline crews may be subject to medical quarantine.

• Based on the above restrictions, all incoming travellers will be subjected to 0 days of quarantine in the best-case scenario and 14 days of quarantine in the worst-case scenario.

Recommended Border App

• No

• Currently, no COVID-19 tracing app has been recommended.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into the country.

Insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• Entebbe Airport is open for international flights.

• International flight operations to and from Uganda have restarted.

• Arrivals and departures from Entebbe International Airport are only allowed to be picked up or dropped off by a maximum of two people, including the driver. Vehicles with more than the permitted number of people will not be allowed to access the airport.

Border restrictions

• Minimal

• Uganda’s air and land borders are open.

Curfew restrictions

• Significant

• There is an overnight curfew in place from 21:00 to 06:00. Airline passengers travelling to or from the airport will not be affected during curfew hours.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Gatherings of up to 200 people are allowed if a 2-meter distance between participants can be maintained.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Masks are required.

• Public transportation, such as motorcycle taxis (boda bodas), tuk-tuks, and taxis are allowed to operate until 18:00. There may be limited capacity.

• There is no restriction on movement by personal vehicles, including in districts with an international border. There is a capacity limit of four people per car, including the driver. Everyone in the vehicle must wear a face mask if there is more than one person in the vehicle.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Some non-essential businesses, including hardware shops, garages, metal works, woodworks, insurance providers, are open.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are operating. Food delivery services are also available outside curfew hours.

Bars and cafes open?

• No

• Bars are closed.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Salons, gyms, and massage parlours have been permitted to operate.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Places of worship are allowed to reopen, with limitations on the number of people attending.

Events allowed?

• Yes

• Meetings and gatherings of up to 200 people are allowed (including political rallies), however, participants must maintain a social distance of 2 metres in all directions at all times and masks must be worn.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Wearing a face mask is mandatory in public places and on public transport for everyone 6 years of age and older.

Other

• Dance halls remain closed.

• Cinemas and gyms are allowed to reopen.

• Casinos and gaming centres are restricted to operate between 6:30 and 19:00 while adhering to strict social distancing and sanitary measures.

• Open-air sports have been allowed to commence without spectators.

• Educational institutions will reopen for the classes of P-7, S-4, S-6, finalists in tertiary colleges, and finalists in universities.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.