Understanding COVID-19 Protocols at Entebbe
Get to know all the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures at Entebbe International Airport before you can book your Uganda safari trip.
If you are planning to travel to Uganda through Entebbe International Airport, you will surely be impressed by the country’s efficiency in stopping the cross-border spread of COVID-19.
Health Screening and Entry Protocols
Entry at Entebbe International Airport requires a valid passport and an original Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. While COVID-19 PCR testing is no longer a universal requirement for entry in 2026, health officials conduct non-contact thermal imaging for all arriving passengers. Travelers must maintain a body temperature below 37.5°C (99.5°F) and remain free of persistent coughs, respiratory distress, or other viral symptoms.
Authorities subject any passenger exhibiting signs of infectious disease to secondary medical screening. If clinicians confirm an infectious condition, the traveler will be transferred to a specialized facility for further management. Note that these protocols align with the strict biosecurity measures required for primate tracking; any signs of illness may result in a mandatory deferral of your gorilla trek to protect the resident populations.
Vaccination and Supplemental Testing
While the government has phased out mandatory COVID-19 testing for most arrivals, the Ministry of Health reserves the right to implement random diagnostic screening at the passenger’s expense if regional health alerts are active. Always verify the current biosecurity status with your Primate World Safaris architect 72 hours before departure to ensure compliance with the latest 2026 health ordinances.
Efficiency of Airport Processing
When you have everything in order, it should take you a minimum of 15 minutes from entering the airport terminal building to exiting immigration.
Airport management has introduced additional measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. These measures categorize travelers by country of origin and aim to prevent new variants from entering Uganda.
Category 1: India (only returning Ugandans holding Ugandan passports). Non-Ugandans from Category 1 may enter if they complete 28 days in a quarantine center in a Category 3 country. On arrival in Uganda, authorities will administer a PCR test at the traveler’s own cost.
Category 2: United States of America, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan.
Category 3: All countries not listed in Categories 1 and 2. Authorities will not require PCR testing for travelers from these countries.
ii. Individuals from Category 2 countries who have received full COVID-19 vaccination and show no signs of infection do not need to take a PCR test.
Tourism and Economic Resilience
Also to note is that these measures are subject to regular changes depending on how different countries are handling or responding to the pandemic.
Tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at Entebbe International Airport are clear, and every passenger and staff member must follow the set COVID-19 protocols at all times to demonstrate the country’s resilience in recovering from the economic downturn, especially as over 600,000 Ugandans who rely directly or indirectly on tourism have suffered severe impacts from the pandemic.
