Travel to Uganda: A Safe Reopening for Visitors

After being closed for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda has reopened to visitors entering the country for leisure and business purposes. However, there are some conditions attached to admission.

Uganda has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels Global Safety & Hygiene Stamp for complying with globally-standardized health and hygiene protocols. Consequently, tour operators, hotels, and lodges are adhering to strict standard operating procedures pertaining to international tourism. The country is dedicated to ensuring a safe and sanitary experience for visitors while safeguarding the health of both the Ugandan people and the country’s wildlife population.

Additionally, Entebbe International Airport has resumed operations for international airlines, and all of Uganda’s national parks are open for visitors. It is important to note that mandatory use of masks and social distancing of five feet within the terminals is enforced. Every passenger must arrive with a negative PCR COVID-19 test certificate for a test conducted within 72 hours prior to arrival in Uganda.

Upon arrival, health screenings are conducted, including temperature checks and assessments for other signs or symptoms of infectious diseases. Any passenger displaying symptoms is taken to a waiting ambulance and transferred to an isolation center at Entebbe Hospital, where tests are administered. If a passenger tests positive for COVID-19, they are taken to a dedicated COVID-19 treatment center. Moreover, passengers leaving Uganda must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test done within 72 hours before boarding.

Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda houses more than half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking to observe these incredible creatures in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a premier travel experience. When visiting national parks, vehicles and boats are mandated to operate at half capacity in accordance with government social distancing guidelines. Furthermore, face masks must be worn, and mandatory temperature screenings using non-contact infrared thermometers are conducted by representatives of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

All visitors, staff, and trackers have their temperature checked at every briefing point for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking. Visitors are required to carry at least two N95 masks, surgical masks, or double-layered cloth masks with filters to ensure single-use for each day of visitation. Additionally, adherence to handwashing and sanitization measures is essential. Guides ensure a minimum of 6.5 feet between trekkers, who must also maintain at least 32 feet away from primates.