COVID-19 Information

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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: [12/02/20]

Country-Specific Information:

  • Uganda continues to experience COVID-19 outbreaks.  For the most recent statistics, please visit the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Health’s webpage.
  • On September 20, President Museveni announced changes to the current restrictions, including opening of Entebbe International Airport on October 1 and all land borders, allowing schools to re-open on October 15 for the candidate classes, permitting places of worship to gather, and allowing open-air sport activities to resume without spectators. He also lifted restrictions on movement to and from border districts.
  • On November 9, the Ministry of Health issued further updates relaxing restrictions, including allowing gatherings of no more than 200 persons provided masks are worn and social distancing of 2 meters is followed.  Cinemas, gyms, and massage parlors have been permitted to open while casinos and gaming centers are restricted to operating between the hours of 6:30am to 7:00pm.  Bars and dance halls remain closed.
  • The curfew (2100h-0600h) remains in place. Motorcycle taxi (boda boda) drivers must cease their movements by 1800h.
  • On November 24, the Ministry of Health issued new guidelines regarding COVID-19 testing required for both inbound and outbound travel to Uganda including a requirement that tests be taken at an approved facility within 120 hours of departure.
  • Letter to U.S. Citizens : Now is the Time to take Precautions!

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
    • Entebbe International Airport opened on October 1.  Tourists are permitted to enter the country with a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than120 hours before boarding aircraft in-bound to Uganda. Please note this change from the previous requirement of 72 hours.
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
    • Travelers must take a certified PCR COVID-19 test no more than120 hours before departure for Uganda and obtain a negative result. Tests must have been done by a health facility that is accredited by the government of the country in which the test is conducted. Travelers will be required to present their test results to the airline to receive confirmation of their flight booking.
    • Uganda has an Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Health that is managing the COVID-19 response and can be reached through their hotline: (+256) 0800 203 033, 0800-100-066, or 0800-303-033.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.
    • In-bound travelers will be subject to temperature and health screening upon arrival.
    • Any arriving passengers who exhibit signs or symptoms of an infectious disease will be transported to an isolation center for a COVID-19 test where they must remain, at their own cost, until the results of the test are received. Travelers who test positive will be taken to a Ministry of Health facility for treatment or given the option to be repatriated (for foreigners), at their own cost.
    • The Government of Uganda requires that all departing passengers present a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken not more than 120 hours before departure. This requirement is mandatory for all departing passengers out of Uganda even if the destination country does not require it.  COVID-19 tests for departing passengers must be taken at an accredited laboratory or a COVID-19 sample collection point approved by the Ministry of Health.  A full list of approved testing facilities can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website.  Travelers are expected to cover all costs associated with their COVID-19 test and test results must indicate that they are for the express purpose of travel with the annotation “TRAVEL” clearly marked.
  • Information regarding visa extensions for residents and/or tourists: The Ministry of Internal Affairs is open for visa renewals and other routine immigration matters.  Foreign residents and visitors with visa issues or questions can visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs office Monday through Friday from 0800h to 1400h.

Movement Restrictions:

  • Is a curfew in place? Yes.
    • A nationwide curfew is enforced from 2100h to 0600h. Note that arriving and departing airline passengers will be exempt curfew restrictions when their flights take place during quarantine hours.  However, drivers should have with them documentary evidence of their connection to passengers arriving at or departing from the airport in order to facilitate passage through police checkpoints enforcing the nationwide curfew.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
    • Public transport is generally allowed at half-capacity and all passengers are required to wear masks.
    • When in public, wearing of masks is required and individuals are expected to maintain social distancing at all times.

Quarantine Information:

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.
    • Quarantine is not required for arriving foreign nationals who have a negative PCR COVID-19 test result done by an accredited laboratory in the country of origin, unless the person exhibits signs or symptoms of an infectious disease.  Such individuals will be transported to an isolation center for a COVID-19 test where they must remain, at their own cost, until the results of the test are received.  Travelers who test positive will be taken to a Ministry of Health facility for treatment, or given the option to be repatriated (for foreigners), at their own cost.

COVID-19 Testing:

  • A number of health facilities in Kampala offer COVID-19 testing. For a full list of accredited laboratories and approved sample collection points, please visit the Ministry of Health’s website.  Travelers are expected to cover all costs associated with their COVID-19 test.  Average cost for testing is UGX 350,000.

Transportation Options:

  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
    • Entebbe International Airport opened for regular commercial traffic on October 1.
  • Is public transportation operating? Yes.
    • Public transport operators are expected to provide sanitization, passengers are required to wear masks, and seating is limited to half regular capacity.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

  • Violators may face varying consequences including verbal warnings from police, being detained for a period of time, or formal arrest for disobeying presidential directives and/or for a negligent act likely to spread disease.

Consular Operations:

  • American Citizen Services: The consular section at U.S. Embassy Kampala is now offering routine appointments for passports and notarial services, as well as appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).  To schedule a passport or notarial appointment, please visit our website.  To qualify for a CRBA appointment, you must first be documentarily ready for interview.  To submit your documents for review, please email KampalaCRBA@state.gov.  CRBA appointments are being scheduled for those who are already documentarily ready in chronological order of receipt.
  • Visa services: The consular section is prioritizing services for U.S. citizens.  Routine visa processing remains suspended, but we continue to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services as resources and local conditions allow.  We will resume regular visa processing as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. The MRV fee is valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased until December 31, 2021. Please see these notices which contain detailed information about the current status of visa services worldwide and visa restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-visa-services-and-restrictions.html
  • COVID-19 Vaccines: As part of our efforts to give U.S. citizens timely information so that they can make informed choices about travel abroad, the Department advises that the United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas should follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

Local Resources:

By | 25 February, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Exclude, Sections & Offices, U.S. Citizen Services

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