The Government of Uganda has in a twist of events taken over-testing of all flight passengers entering the country through the Entebbe International Airport.
Previously, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had authorized three laboratories to conduct mandatory testing at the airport.
They include Test and Fly, Safari, and Same Day laboratories, these were charging USD 65 (229,000 Shillings) for every test conducted.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the minister of ICT and National Guidance says the cabinet has resolved to slash the testing fee to USD 30, approximately 105,000 Shillings.
Baryomunsi emphasizes that once this is effected, no private laboratory will test individuals at the airport.
He explains “……. all arriving passengers shall be carried out by the government and not the private laboratories. The passengers will pay a recovery cost of 30 USD instead of 65 USD being paid today. This shall be paid through a bank at the airport,”.
He says travelers with Tourist visas will be allowed to settle in hotels as they await the release of their test results, which was not the case before.
This comes after the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja Last week directed that a team led by the Nation Planning Authority to review COVID-19 testing procedures at the airport.
It also comes after an ugly incident on Tuesday this week in which hundreds of Ugandans, slated to travel to the United Arab Emirates-UAE missed a flight for lack of covid19 PCR test results.
The rapid PCR tests that were taken by Safari laboratory were delayed under unclear circumstances.
