Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kampala (May 12, 2020)
Location: Uganda
Event: There are 122 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Uganda according to the Ministry of Health.
UK Charter Flight:
A UK Charter flight will be departing Entebbe for London on Thursday, May 21st. While British nationals will receive priority on this flight, the British High Commission has indicated there may be availability for citizens of other nations as well. U.S. citizens will need to make their own reservations for onward flights from London.
If you are committed to taking this flight, complete all the information in this online form by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 13. If you do not complete it in full, you will not be considered for this flight. Only submit one form per person (infants excepted). Depending on availability, not everyone who responds may be offered a seat.
The flight to London costs £559 (British Pounds) per passenger (infants (under 2yrs) free on adult’s lap). If a seat is available for you, you will receive an email with the credit card link for making payment.
This is not a U.S. government-controlled flight. It is a charter flight organized by the British High Commission, which controls pricing and availability. However, the British High Commission has asked the U.S. Embassy to organize U.S. nationals interested in the flight.
Note that any non-British nationals who book via the airline and are not on the list provided by the U.S. Embassy will have their booking cancelled (and may be charged a small administration fee). The booking link will be publicly available only for British nationals to book.
Flight details:
21 May depart EBB 1400 arrive LHR T2 at 2045
£559 per passenger, infants (under 2yrs) free on adult’s lap
Baggage 2x 25kgs hold, 10kgs cabin
Travel to the Airport:
If you successfully reserve the flight, please contact your Resident District Commissioner to request permission to transport yourself to the airport.
Note:
Please also note that free repatriation flights for U.S. citizens do not exist. 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. With no plans for such a flight, we will continue to inform U.S. citizens if we are made aware of any specially arranged outgoing commercial flights or flights chartered by embassies of other nations with seat availability.
Interested parties should verify that their passports and other documentation are current and valid for at least six months from today’s date. For emergency American Citizen Services, including emergency passports, please visit our website.
COVID-19 Restrictions:
On May 4, President Museveni announced a 14-day extension of the lockdown measures, with some alterations. Selected businesses will be allowed to operate, but the ban on personal and public transport, as well as the curfew (1900-0630), remain in effect. Additionally, all persons are now required to wear a face covering in public. Entebbe International Airport remains closed.
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 2 Global COVID-19 Outbreak Notice.
Actions to Take:
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Visit the Government of Uganda website on COVID-19
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Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
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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.
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Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
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Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
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Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Uganda.
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Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Assistance:
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U.S. Embassy Kampala
1577 Ggaba Road
Kampala, Uganda
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State Department – Consular Affairs
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888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.