Stay Away, Don’t Cross! Unvaccinated Ugandans banned From Entering Kenya Over Covid-19 Surge
By Uganda Online Media
President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Maj Tom Magambo who has been in the Internal Security Organisations(ISO) as the new police Criminal Investigations Director.
“President Museveni has promoted Private Tom Magambo to the rank of Major and appointed him Director Criminal Investigations of the Uganda Police Force,” the acting UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu said in a statement.
Kampala: Following the decision by UAE to temporarily ban passenger flights from Entebbe, Kenya has also banned unvaccinated Ugandans from crossing into their land.
Kenya has tasked Uganda airlines to carry into the country only COVID-19 fully vaccinated travelers/passengers from Uganda in a move to contain the spread of COVID-19.
As a result, Uganda airlines has issued a travel advisory to passengers, urging them to travel with their COVID-19 vaccination cards/certificates.
“Entry into Kenya has been restricted to only COVID-19 fully vaccinated passengers. Passengers traveling into Kenya are advised to carry their COVID-19 vaccination cards.” Uganda airlines said in a statement.
It is understood that the move by Kenya through Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) took effect from 21st December 2021.
“All passengers arriving into Kenya through any point of entry must have a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination. Travelers below the age of eighteen (18) years are exempt from this requirement,” KCAA’s notice to airlines noted
Uganda Airlines flies to Nairobi, Kenya twice a day. This means that the national carrier flies to Kenya 14 times in a week. Nairobi is one of the lucrative routes for Uganda Airlines.
The national carrier also flies to Mombasa thrice a week.
This comes in just two after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspended flights from Uganda to Dubai until further notice over a surge in COVID-19.
Dubai is one of the top four routes from Entebbe International Airport, with an average of 17 flights a week. These flights are operated by Uganda Airlines, Emirates, Fly Dubai, Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.
The recent announcements by UAE and Kenya are set to impact on revenues of airlines as the number of passengers traveling will automatically reduce.
