Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kampala (August 6, 2020)

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kampala (August 6, 2020)  

Location:  Uganda  

Event:  There are 1213 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and five deaths due to COVID-19 reported in Uganda according to the Ministry of Health.    

Upcoming Flights:

The U.S. Embassy is aware of the following repatriation flights out of Entebbe International Airport for foreigners wishing to depart Uganda.

Flight Information:

Date	Destination/Transit Point	Airline	Contact
12 Aug 2020 16 Aug 2020 20 Aug 2020 23 Aug 2020 26 Aug 2020 30 Aug 2020	Brussels (BRU)	Brussels Air	+256-752-750-350; reservations.kla@satgurutravel.com
16 Aug 2020 23 Aug 2020 30 Aug 2020	Amsterdam (AMS)	KLM	Lillian.Wanzusi@KLM.com; Lukia.Otema@KLM.com; +256-752-750-350; reservations.kla@satgurutravel.com

Please note that all of the above flights may also be available for booking through travel agencies, including Simba Travelcare (sales@travelcare.co.ug; +256-754-222-600; +256-752-750-350) and Satguru Travel (reservations.kla@satgurutravel.com; +256-750-550-060).

Interested passengers must book directly with the airline or travel agency indicated.  Travelers will be able to book an itinerary to a final destination in the United States.

These are not U.S. government-controlled flights. Pricing, availability, and cancellations are controlled by the airline.

Note: There are no free repatriation flights for U.S. citizens.  According to U.S. law, departure assistance to U.S. citizens must be provided on a reimbursable basis.  The U.S. Embassy has no plans to charter an evacuation flight out of Uganda but if we were to do so, the U.S. Embassy would require passengers to sign a promissory note for the loan and reimburse the U.S. government for the cost of the flight.

Interested parties should verify that their passports and other documentation are current and valid for at least six months from today’s date.  For American Citizen Services, including passport renewals, please visit our website.

Consular Services:

The consular section at U.S. Embassy Kampala is now offering limited routine passport appointments, notarials, and appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).  To schedule a passport or notarial appointment, please visit our website, which will be open for appointments as of Monday, July 27.  To qualify for a CRBA appointment, you must first be documentarily ready for interview.  To submit your documents for review, please email KampalaCRBA@state.gov.  CRBA appointments will be scheduled for those who are already documentarily ready in chronological order of receipt. 

COVID-19 Restrictions:

On July 21, President Museveni announced changes to the current restrictions, including allowing shopping arcades and beauty salons to reopen immediately, permitting boda boda drivers to begin carrying passengers again on July 27, and shortening the curfew to 2100h-0530h.  Schools, churches, and mosques remain closed.  Entebbe International Airport, as well as all land borders, remain closed to regular passenger traffic.

All passengers returning to Uganda, including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who might be able to avail themselves of special repatriation flights bringing passengers into Uganda, must be prepared to quarantine at the direction of the Government of Uganda. This will include institutional quarantine at your own expense for approximately 16 days at a property pre-approved by the Ugandan government. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

 Visa Status of Foreign Residents and Visitors in Uganda:

The Ministry of Internal Affairs opened their office for visa renewals and other routine immigration matters on June 15.  Foreign residents and visitors with visa issues or questions can visit their office Monday through Friday from 0800 to 1400.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs under the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration is the issuing authority for Uganda visas and is the entity that may be able to provide guidance:

       Toll Free Numbers 0800 199 003/4
       Email:info@immigration.go.ug

The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Global COVID-19 Outbreak Notice.    

Actions to Take:    

Visit the Government of Uganda website on COVID-19  
Consult the  CDC website for the most up-to-date information.  
For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.    
Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.  
Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Uganda.    
Visit the  Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.