KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni has allowed travel in and out of Uganda for medical reasons but said “this should be examined on case by case basis.”
Addressing the country on Monday June 22, the president said several people from neighboring countries such as South Soudan, may wish to enter Uganda for purposes of accessing medical care.
Entry into Uganda has been restricted since March except for cargo related handlers such as truck drivers and air cargo crew, a decision made to reduce the risk of importation of COVID-19 cases.
He, however, said opening for individuals to come in for care would increase importation of COVID-19 cases but noted that any urgent entry should be allowed but handled by the Ministry of Health on a case by case basis.
On Travel outside Uganda for medical reasons, he like the entry into Uganda, travel outside Uganda will require opening several other related activities, expanding testing and quarantine facilities and detailed SOPs for the screening and authorization of individuals to travel.
He also tasked Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries handle requests on a case by case basis.
After several weeks of tracking cases and contacts, he said the Ministry of Health has further mapped out the risk profiles across the districts to inform opening of additional border districts with no reported coronavirus cases and refugees.
“The number of districts and overall number of cases reduced in the past week. However, continued vigilance is required in all the districts that reported cases in the past two weeks. Restrictions should thus be maintained in the districts with evidence of community clusters and other high-risk characteristics in the past two weeks.
He said the rest of the border districts can be opened but with continued vigilance and reporting of any suspicious events and compliance to prevention measures.
He said the only safe activities that can be re-opened now are the public passenger transport and private cars in some of the 33 border districts that do not have the coronavirus.
These are: Amudat, Bududa, Bukwo, Bundibugyo, Buvuma, Hoima, Isingiro, Kaabong, Kabale, Kalangala, Kanungu, Kasese, Kikuube, Kisoro, Kitgum, Koboko, Kween, Lamwo, Maracha, Mayuge, Moroto, Moyo, and Namayingo.
Namisindwa, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Pakwach, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Sironko and Yumbe are the other districts in the category.
