Traveling to Uganda and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic: frequently asked questions about quarantine, visas, immigration, Entebbe airport, bus travel and borders.
[Entebbe Airport photos used in this article taken pre-pandemic].
In the last few weeks I have had a lot of questions from Ugandans, Kenyans and expats of various nationalities who want to travel to Uganda.
- Would you like to travel to Uganda?
- Are you waiting for Entebbe Airport to reopen?
- Are you applying for a Uganda or Kenya tourist visa online?
- Would you like to travel between Uganda and Kenya by plane or bus?
- When will Uganda’s airport reopen?
Uganda travel inquiry # 1
Hello, I want to go to Kampala on August 20th but haven’t organized it yet. Do I have to have a work permit because I am only going there for one project?
Leila, Kenya, August 9thth 2020 as the answer to MASH-tastic – the Muzungu’s bus tips from Kampala to Nairobi.
The muzungu replied:
The borders are currently closed and Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport will not open until mid-September at the earliest (according to a good source). Read here how to reopen Entebbe Airport.
If you come here to work or to volunteer, you will need a work permit. Usually, you can enter the country on a single-entry tourist visa and then apply for your work permit. However, one case is different from another.
For more information, see Applying for Your Uganda Visa Online.
To contact Uganda Immigration directly, use their Facebook page. Prior to the pandemic, immigrants would typically respond within 24 hours, but they are downgrading at the moment.
I have a feeling you won’t be traveling on August 20th, but good luck and let me know how to do it! Safe journey.
Uganda travel request # 2
Hi: I’ve been following your blog since I came to Africa and it’s very informative and well done. I am an American businessman trapped in Nairobi. You clearly have a sense of what’s going on in East Africa so my guess was that you might know something about the frontier travel situation. In October 2019, I was first in Kampala for a month and then volunteered in Nyanza for a month on the way to the business in Nairobi. I was hoping to be here briefly so that I could return to Kampala to clear up various issues before leaving Africa. But here I am still. I read news online that the Ugandan government is under pressure to reopen Entebbe. I called Mash POA and EasyCoach who both tell me there is no Nairobi / Kampala trip and they don’t know when it will resume. Do you have any idea or rumor that you are kind enough to share this?
Peter, Nairobi, August 7thth 2020
The muzungu replied:
Yes Peter, the Ugandan government is under increasing pressure to reopen Entebbe International Airport. I am closely following developments and will let you know if I hear anything positive about the airport or land borders.
I am sorry to hear that you were stranded in Nairobi. When President Museveni closed schools, I made sure I raced back into the country … and I’ve stayed here since March. You could enjoy some of mine #LockdownDiaries from the Kibale Forest in western Uganda.
Uganda travel inquiry # 3
Hello dear Charlotte, I am glad to hear that despite these difficult times when the whole world is in a kind of depression, you have not lost your positive attitude.
I am somehow happy for Uganda that Covid is not affected by it like the neighboring countries. Hope the airport will be working again soon so I can get on a plane. Any idea when the airport will be available for us to fly back?
I wish you all the best and thank you for your efforts to keep Uganda’s safaris, wildlife and tourism alive.
Sako, Beirut, August 7thth 2020
The muzungu replied:
The government said it would reopen Entebbe International Airport on August 1 (but it didn’t). Many people are pressuring to reopen Uganda’s airport. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.
Yes, everything is fine in Uganda (August 7th) and I am very happy to be in Kibale Forest. Nature keeps me positive.
Uganda travel inquiry # 4
Thank you for the updates and all of the helpful information you have offered. I plan to go to Kampala for leisure only in November. Can that be possible with this Corona issue? Any new updates please?
Monica, Kenya, Jan.approx August as a response to MASH-tastic – the Muzungu bus runs from Kampala to Nairobi.
The muzungu replied:
Unfortunately, it is impossible to say what the situation will be like in November. I am sure that by this time you know that Entebbe Airport and Uganda’s borders are still closed.
Once you get here, public transport operates in Uganda, but it accepts fewer passengers (for a higher fee, of course!).
The number of coronavirus infections peaked yesterday with 318 new cases reported, and there are rumors that Kampala could be locked again. I spoke to several friends in Kampala today and they all advised me to stay away longer as most people are neither socially distant nor wear masks properly, especially when driving downtown to the busiest areas. Let’s hope the coronavirus peaks quickly and you can travel here in November 2020.
I would advise you not to make travel plans until you can be absolutely certain that it will be safe and comfortable to travel. You don’t want to come here and then spend all of your time in quarantine (at your expense!). There is currently a 14-day quarantine for those (very few) people who come to Uganda (on special return flights, etc.).
These blogs can also be helpful:
Get ready for coronavirus in Uganda. Published March 2020 and updated regularly with lots of health advice on COVID-19 / Coronavirus and lots of useful links.
Advice from the US Embassy in Kampala: Now is the time to take precautionary measures. Published in August 2020.
Uganda’s private sector tourism calls for the airport to be reopened. Published in August 2020.
Uganda travel inquiry # 5
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
After all the covid craziness is over, I plan to visit Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
My questions are
1. How quickly can I apply for an online visa for East Africa with Uganda as the first port of entry? Can I apply three months before I plan to leave my home country?
2. With Uganda as the port of entry, how high is the success rate for online applications for an East African visa? If an application is rejected, what are the usual reasons for the rejection?
Paolo, August 21st in answer to What is the East Africa Tourist Visa? A final guide.
The muzungu replied:
Let me advise you on the basis of the latest findings. I spoke to someone in Uganda Immigration today and I know things are working very slowly right now, so we all need to be patient (and keep in mind that things may not work out the way they did before the pandemic).
1. Yes, you can apply three months in advance. That is the maximum.
2. Regarding the success rate, I can’t give you a number. I think it’s pretty easy to get a permit. In fact, I haven’t met anyone whose application was denied. Once upon a time Uganda asked you to prove (for example) that you wanted to visit Rwanda and Kenya and asked for itineraries or hotel confirmations that said “onward travel”, but that has not happened recently.
If things were going normally, getting tourist visa approval online was quick (within a week). General reasons for a visa refusal are that you have not submitted all of the requested forms.
Hope this answers your questions. If not, ping me another message 🙂
Kenya travel request
How long does it take to get East African visa via Kenya online?
Daria, August 5thth 2020 in answer to What is the East Africa Tourist Visa? A final guide.
The muzungu replied:
I couldn’t find an exact answer to your question, but I contacted friends of tour operators in Kenya who shared this:
Note the following: “Kenyan Immigration advises that all passengers who require a visa to enter Kenya must apply online. You can also apply for a visa on arrival in Kenya online. Visa cash payments on arrival are NOT permitted. Visa cards are accepted however. “
The Kenya High Commission in Great Britain has one Notice of the resumption of international air traffic to Kenya on August 1, 2020.
It states: “All arriving passengers on international flights whose body temperature is NOT above 37.5 ° C (99.5 ° F); DO NOT have a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or other flu-like symptoms; Have a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test performed within 96 hours of travel and come from countries that are considered to be COVID-19 transmission areas with low to medium risk are exempt from quarantine.
However, the communique lists “countries from which travelers are exempt from quarantine” (How current is this list?) Note that “the Department of Health will review countries on a daily basis … a country’s risk profile could change and therefore the status of these clarifications and guidelines could change too.”
Do you have any questions about traveling to Uganda and East Africa during the pandemic? Do you have any advice or experience to share? If you want the latest travel advice, feel free to comment here or contact me directly. Things change daily … #Stay safe
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