COVID-19: Air and land borders to reopen, some internal restrictions relaxed

IMPACT – HIGH

Uganda will reopen air and land borders and has relaxed some internal restrictions that were put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Key Points:

• Air and land borders are set to reopen Oct. 1.
• Inbound and outbound business and tourist visitors will be required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test certificate.

• • Arrival protocols. All travelers arriving in Uganda must have a negative COVID-19 certificate. The test must have been performed within 72 hours of arrival. Neither foreign travelers nor Ugandan citizens will be required to quarantine if they have a negative COVID-19 test. Arriving travelers are required to provide their addresses to the Ministry of Health for follow up.
  • Departure protocols. Passengers leaving Uganda must obtain a valid PCR COVID-19 PCR test within the 72-hour period before departure. Where a PCR test is not available, the passenger must ensure that he or she has clearance from the country being traveled to in order to demonstrate that it is not possible to take a PCR COVID-19 test, and will be allowed to enter the country on arrival.

• Local Ugandan travel workers such as tour operators are required to guide passengers so they travel directly to their stay locations and limit their interactions with Ugandan citizens.
• Uganda began relaxing certain internal restrictions in Sept. 20, including:

• • Lifting restrictions on movement within border districts, which are districts with main border entry points from neighboring countries into Uganda.
  • Allowing shopping malls, pharmacies, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and hair salons to operate. These establishments are encouraged to continue practicing the standard operating procedures set in place by the Ministry of Health.
  • Allowing places of worship to operate with a maximum of 70 people in attendance, provided they follow Ministry of Health guidelines.
  • Allowing certain educational institutions to reopen.
  • Allowing open-air sports activities with no spectators. Participants are required to be tested for COVID-19 72 hours before the activity.

Additional Information: While a number of previous COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed, others remain in place. Indoor spaces such as movie theaters, bars, casinos and gyms remained closed. Gatherings of more than five people and exercising in public are not allowed. People must wear protective masks when they are in public spaces. A nationwide curfew also remains in effect.

Analysis & Comments: Employers may send their employees to Uganda beginning Oct. 1, provided they are in compliance with entry requirements. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

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