Uganda President H.E Yoweri Museveni on Friday 22 October, 2021, commissioned the Entebbe International Airport Covid-19 laboratories for mandatory testing of all incoming passengers through the national airport.
The lab is to be used for mandatory COVID-19 testing of all incoming passengers both vaccinated and unvaccinated through Entebbe International Airport.
- The measure is intended to curb further importation of the deadly variants of the coronavirus into the country and to abet further spread of the disease and guard against the third wave.
- The country has previously been testing only passengers from high-risk countries.
- The facility has the capacity to test 3,600 passengers in 12 hours and 7,200 passengers in 24 hours.
In a press release issued by Vianney Mpungu Luggya, Manager of Public Affairs for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), a Notice to Airmen communicating the details of the mandatory testing requirements to all airlines is to be immediately processed and issued accordingly.
Speaking at the launch, the President Museveni commended all the stakeholders who had played a role in making it possible.
The Uganda Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, had earlier on cited the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Works and Transport, the Army Brigade, and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority as having played leading roles.
The function was also attended by the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Lukiya Nakadama; the Minister in charge of General Duties, Hon. Justine Lumumba; the Uganda Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng; and the Uganda Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, among other dignitaries.
Earlier on, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja informed stakeholders at a meeting held on Thursday, October 21, 2021, that the measure is intended to curb further importation of the deadly variants of the coronavirus into the country. It is also to abet further spread of the disease and guard against the third wave.
The country has previously been testing only passengers from high-risk countries.
The Uganda Ministry of Health set up the testing laboratories at the airport and trained laboratory technicians, data entrants, and all the other port-health staff to manage the process.
The turnaround time for the mandatory COVID-19 test results will be reduced from 4 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Five PCR test machines with the capacity to test 300 samples per hour are in place at Entebbe International Airport. The facility has the capacity to test 3,600 passengers in 12 hours and 7,200 passengers in 24 hours.
COVID-19 Test locations & info about Uganda
The Uganda government reduced the cost of a COVID-19 test from USD 65 to USD30. The transfer of testing laboratories from Peniel Beach Hotel in Entebbe where private laboratories were operating to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) under the government was intended to improve on the passenger facilitation process to ensure efficient service delivery.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General, Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, thanked the President and Cabinet for the various efforts, especially the financial support to the various participating agencies to enable them to install the testing facilities at the airport, which was expected to enhance the passenger experience in light of the fact that all the processes would be completed at the airport. He also called for further support to enable the Authority complete on-going projects.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has been working together with other partners such as the Ministry of Health (MOH), Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) engineering brigade who constructed the facility in a record one month, National Planning Authority (NPA), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Ministry of Trade, Security, and other agencies to ensure safety measures are observed.
Dr. Atek Kagirita, the Deputy Incident Commander for COVID-19 and operations officer in-charge of COVID-19 testing at the airport, said they have oriented staff to equip them with airport operations, safety, and security implications to safeguard them from the pandemic.
The Procedure
Arriving passengers at Entebbe international airport will go through the port health processes and later the swabbing area.
“We have got swab samples for tourists, VIPs, and for ordinary passengers,” confirmed Kenneth Otim, Principal Public Affairs Officer, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
When the passenger is swabbed, they shall be directed through the exit of the Entebbe terminal to where Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has arranged a holding place for all the passengers that would have taken their swabs.
The turnaround time for these swabbings until the time you get your PCR test results is expected to be 2 1/2 hours. The facility has testing equipment, a data center, and Genprex machines.
The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) has provided an Internet connection to ensure that the system at the swabbing areas and the systems at the laboratory communicate, for verification of passenger records, and also to verify how much money has been paid for testing.
Passengers found to be negative will be allowed to proceed to their final destination.
Tourists found positive shall be shuttled to specific hotels, while regular travelers found positive, the Uganda Ministry of Health will deploy vehicles to transport them to Namboole (Mandela) national stadium where they will be quarantined.
According to the Uganda Ministry of Health data, the highest uptake of the jabs (668,982) has been recorded in this month of October, days after Uganda back-to-back received 5.5 million vaccines, showing a positive correlation between higher vaccine stock and a rising jabbed population.
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 20 October, 2021, confirm 111 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 125,537; cumulative recoveries 96,469; and 2 new deaths.
Read more about President Museveni launches Covid-19 laboratories at Entebbe International Airport Port Health
ABOUT ENTEBBE AIRPORT – TRANSPORTATION FROM/TO ENTEBBE AIRPORT – AIRPORT TAXI
Entebbe International Airport short for Entebbe Airport or (EBB), is the international airport serving the Ugandan capital city Kampala, and is the largest of the country’s main commercial airport.
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) by road south-west of the central business district of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.
Entebbe Airport arrivals and departures. All International flights arrive at Entebbe airport, including some of Europe’s best air careers. Enquire and book flights to Entebbe International Airport and Airports Taxi Transfers (Kampala). Email us at; info@responsibletourismcompany.com or Call/WhatsApp +256 751 070 550
Uganda Safaris + Highlights and Parks
Book a 10 day Uganda safari with experiencing rural life, boat cruise, primate viewing, game drive, parks and highlights from Kampala. Bundle Activities + Hotel and Save. Book Uganda Safari Packages on Responsible Tourism Company.
