As Uganda continues to gracefully adopt mechanisms of living with novel Corona Virus Disease –Covid19, President Yoweri Museveni, has opened Entebbe Airport for tourists.
“The International Airport and Land borders will now be opened for tourists, coming in and going out, provided they tested negative 72 hours before arrival in Uganda and provided the tour operators ensure that the tourists do not mix with the Ugandans,” Museveni while addressing Ugandans on Covid19 last evening.
Museveni explained that the tourists will be driven straight from the Airport to their destinations or to designated transit hotels that are set aside for that purpose. This should be the same business delegations should be handled by the Local Partners.
Entebbe Airport just like other means of transport was closed in March for people coming in and leaving Uganda save for arrangements by countries picking their citizens.
A number of Ugandans have been repatriated from countries where they had been stranded when Covid19 was starting. However, most countries have since realized Covid19 is here to stay and all government are devising means of living with the virus.
Museveni added that returning Ugandans, who have negative PCR results, will be allowed to go home. The Ministry of Health will only get their addresses for follow up.
There have been outcries by people returning from abroad as they are quarantined in places that are of poor hygiene or too expensive. Some people claim they got infected while quarantine Centres because of confusion and lack of enough space.
“Restrictions on movements on border districts are hereby lifted,” Museveni said. However, curfew, from 2100 hours (9 p.m.) to 6am has been maintained; but for the Boda-bodas, their movements must always end at 6pm.
Uganda has over 6200 Covid19 cases of which more than 2600 have recovered whereas 66 have succumbed to the disease.