Travellers to receive their Covid-19 test results via emails, WhatsApp- Ministry of health

The ministry of health has revealed that travelers who arrive at Entebbe international airport will now receive their Covid-19 test results through emails and WhatsApp,

According to the minister of health Jane Ruth Aceng, this has been done to avoid overcrowding at the Airport which she says may cause further spread of the virus.

Aceng has further advised travelers to apply and make payments online adding that cash payments will also be accepted.

”There is a link that has been sent to all websites, please access it and provide your information online, pay online to avoid congestion,” Aceng said.

Aceng also rubbished claims reported in the media that a number of tourists have canceled travel to Uganda due to the delays at the airport.

“I want to reassure Ugandans that no tourist was caught up in the confusion at the airport yesterday, Tourists have a separate line. They are always taken away by the tourism board after sample removal and it’s not true that some tourists have canceled their coming into the country,” she added

Several travelers arriving at Entebbe airport were on Wednesday left stranded in the terminals, over the new government masterminded Covid-19 testing.

A number of travelers took to social media to share their disappointment, saying that they waited the whole night to get their test results.

President Museveni launched the new mandatory tests last week, saying that the measures aim to protect the country from a possible importation of new Covid-19 variants.
The move, according to the government also seeks to protect the country from a possible third wave.

The new guidelines necessitate all arriving passengers, irrespective of vaccination status and their country of origin, to undertake a mandatory COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at the Airport.

Travelers are also mandated to carry a negative PCR test certificate obtained within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

On Wednesday, travelers who arrived at the airport were left stranded for hours waiting for their COVID-19 test results, causing chaos at the Airport.

Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health PRO confirmed the incident and said that their teams are working to reduce the waiting time.

“We are working around the clock to address the delays in the testing processes at the Entebbe International Airport. The mandatory COVID-19 testing for all incoming travelers started today morning. We welcome all the feedback and challenges are being fixed,” Ainebyoona said.