COVID-19 health measures at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda. This page is updated regularly and supercedes all Uganda travel information written before the date indicated below.
Entebbe International Airport, Uganda. November 10th 2021
Entebbe International Airport now has mandatory PCR testing for all incoming passengers, regardless of vaccination status or where you started your journey. The test fee is $30. Children under 6 are exempt. Here is my experience. Scroll down for official sources:
Pre-registering and pre-paying for your PCR test is the key to getting through Entebbe Airport quickly. The PCR testing system is better than reported to start with. I am lucky that only one half-full plane was being processed when I landed. Overall, the experience was not bad although it still is not clear to travelers where to queue / sit and no drinking water was available. The lady who did my test was lovely and the test conditions were private and hygienic. It took me approximately one hour from landing to collecting my luggage. I received my PCR test results within 3 hours. However, a colleague is still waiting for his 24 hours after testing 🤷🏻♀️
You do not have to wait at the airport for your test results anymore. They are now sent by email or WhatsApp so you can continue your journey.
All incoming passengers are reminded to fill in the Uganda International Arrivals health form / COVID-19 Test Pre-registration prior to boarding planes to Uganda. (Some countries have a passenger locator form; this is Uganda’s equivalent). Ethiopian Airlines asked to see this when I boarded at London Heathrow and Addis. You should also pay and complete the online payment for the PCR test. When you pay online there is a very small admin fee. I paid 110,000 UGX for the PCR test and 5,500 UGX in fees. You can also do both on arrival – online only – but I advise against it. Admin (and queuing) takes place in a large tent next to immigration. Free Wi-Fi is available for registration and payment (in case you have not done it pre-departure) but it can get hot inside the plastic tent. It will also be congested if several planes arrive at the same time.
Be prepared. Register and pay in advance. If your airline allows you, also take drinking water from the plane.
The arrivals process at Entebbe International Airport now follows this order:
- get off the plane before everyone else 😉
- sanitise hands
- have documents checked: passport, negative PCR test certificate from the country where you start your journey, Yellow Fever certificate
- PCR test
- immigration (pay for your Uganda tourist visa online in advance. Some airlines will not allow you to board without your visa approval letter). I have written extensively about Uganda tourist visas and East Africa Tourist Visas.
- collect your checked-in luggage
- pass luggage (including cabin bags) through scanner
- exit airport and meet your driver
- enjoy fabulous Ugandan weather 😁🙏🏻🇺🇬
The points below are from press releases issued by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority
In summary, according to the UCAA you are allowed to enter or depart Uganda on certain conditions:
Arrivals at Entebbe Airport
- You must produce a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate carried out within 72 hours of the time of sample collection. This is regardless of where you come from / your vaccination status and applies to inbound and outbound passengers.
- Your body temperature is not above 37.5°C (99.5°F), you do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms.
Departures at Entebbe Airport
- Travelers who have had COVID-19 vaccination(s) and hold a certificate must still present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate taken within 72 hours from the time of sample collection to boarding aircraft. (Some destinations will specify a minimum number of days after vaccinations before you can travel; this is because it takes a few days for vaccinations to become effective).
- The muzungu adds: show a print-out of your negative COVID PCR certificate. (Print facilities are available at the airport but you will need to allow extra time to go to lower ground floor of arrivals). I had to do it and I don’t recommend it! The airport (Port Health) insist on printed copies (screenshots will not do).
- Travelers departing Entebbe International Airport are required to know, understand, and interpret COVID-19 requirements of the country they are travelling to. (This requires time to research; every destination is different, rules change regularly and few websites are totally up to date).
- A travelling child 3 years and below, accompanied by parents holding a negative COVID-19 PCR test is exempted from needing a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate.
How can I access / leave Entebbe International Airport during curfew hours?
- Passengers arriving at Entebbe in the curfew time [7 pm], and / or from districts beyond Kampala with a valid air ticket and boarding pass shall be allowed to proceed to their homes or hotels.
- Passengers departing Entebbe Airport during curfew hours are allowed to proceed on presentation of a valid air ticket to the authorities as evidence of going to the airport.
- Drivers should have evidence that they have come from Entebbe Airport to drop or pick up passengers. This could be an airport parking ticket, passenger air ticket or boarding pass. The muzungu adds: tour driver friends confirm that registered tourist vehicles can move freely.
