The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Several Ugandans seeking to return to the United Arab Emirates-UAE are struggling to meet the country’s revised travel restrictions. UAE suspended flights from Uganda on June 11, 2021, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases as the country was battling the second wave of the pandemic.
Some media reports showed that UAE made the decision after over 200 Ugandans who presented negative COVID-19 test results tested positive upon arrival in UAE. The travel ban imposed by UAE threw over 200 labour export firms in a crisis since most of their clients are based in the Middle East, making Dubai Airport a key gateway.
On August 5th, 2021, UAE started allowing flights from Uganda for people with valid resident entry permits. However, the returnees are required to take two PCR COVID-19 tests before their departure flight. The first negative test result certificate must be issued within 48 hours of departure time.
The second one must be taken at the airport and the test result certificate issued four hours before departure. This means that travellers can only board Emirates and FlyDubai that operate direct flights to Dubai.
John Gemin, the Country Manager of Emirates Uganda says the “airline has reinstated flights from Entebbe to Dubai with five weekly flights that resumed on Monday, August 16, 2021.” FlyDubai resumed flights last week.
Dr. James Eyul, who is in charge of Port Health at Entebbe Airport on behalf of the Ministry of Health says that samples are currently picked from UAE air bound passengers at the airport and tests are carried out at Peniel Beach.
Eyul says, “since travellers to the UAE are still few, about twenty every day, their numbers are manageable. We pick their samples from the airport and ensure their results are ready within four hours to their flight.”
Transit passengers are exempted from taking the second test. Ministry of Health established this testing centre at Peniel Beach for arriving passengers from ten countries including India, Kenya, South Africa and South Sudan.
However, some Ugandans who intend to travel to the UAE, say that they are struggling to meet the revised requirements. Sadik Lutaaya and Abdul Kajjubi, say that they returned to Uganda in May and June for a brief holiday.
Lutaaya, a builder says that he was supposed to return to Dubai on June 13. “I was very disappointed.” He has been a resident in the UAE since 2014. Kajjubi who is a chef in one of the hotels in Dubai says that he was supposed to resume work end of June. He had lived in the UAE for 4 years.
“I was very excited when I was told residents had started flying to Dubai.” He however says that his excitement was short-lived because of the costs for the second COVID-19 test and the uncertainty of getting a resident entry permit also known as a back to service permit.
“The entry permit is free but approving an application can take hours or days,” he said. Kajjubi whose resident visa will expire in 2024 says that he applied for a resident entry permit on August 8. The permit had not yet been issued by August 10, when he was expected to travel aboard FlyDubai.
He says that it was painful that he missed the flight because he had paid Shillings 500,000 for the second COVID-19 test at Safari Labs in Katabi, Entebbe municipality. At the time, the health ministry had not yet guided that the second tests would be carried out at Peniel Beach.
Kajjubi also paid Shillings 250,000 for the first test that was taken 48 hours before departure time.
Kajjubi is now counting his losses because he has to undertake fresh tests, the first costing shillings 250,000 and the second one at shillings 350,000.
Amidst the losses, Kajjubi is optimistic that he will be successful this time around because he has secured the return entry permit. “I’m just looking for money to undertake the two COVID-19 tests.”
Kajjubi wants the government to tighten its grip on COVID-19 testing centres because the UAE revised measures are a result of fake certificates. Lutaaya says the health ministry should also consider setting up a testing centre at the airport.
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Uganda should stop stealing. We follow UAE news. There’s is no where which has been written two tests must be taken. It’s rapid test 48hrs before departure. And for Abu Dhabi residents…12 days home quarantine for unvaccinated and 10days for vaccinated residents. And two tests will be done within UAE. First on arrival and the last upon finishing quarantine.
That’s big corruption. We follow news
You are following wrong news, man.
Where’s the corruption in taking two tests?
A 48hrs’ PCR negative test and a 4hr rapid test makes the country corrupt!
Stop misleading readers!
These two tests are requirements set by the Dubai/ UAE government.
Just say the government should pay for its nationals for the rapid test.
I am also wondering how the Ugandan Government is the problem. This is a directive from UAE.
And hence the government is teaching patriotism, How can the same government which Harrus its residents by squeezing money out of them preach a love sermon to the oppressed. Shamelessly, Uganda is charging its own residents and Nationals 500’000 for a covid test!!! This is no different a father eating his own children. We need fresh minds now, who are patriotic to the country and its people.
Uganda is doomed! Normal test n rapid test for what exactly??
Because when UAE wanted only the 48 hour test, Ugandans started faking them.
The 4 hour test is an extra measure that will hopefully make it tricky to fake both on a massive scale
The airlines should test there customers to avoid fake results
i wounder what a rapid test is for since wen do the pcr test
i wounder what a rapid test is for since wen do the pcr test
we need to revise this