Uganda Civil Aviation Authority issues COVID-19 guidelines for passenger

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority has issued COVID-19 guidelines for departing passengers.
Departing passengers will now have to arrive at the airport at least four hours before boarding to go through the health port screening procedures. Passengers will also be required to present valid health certificate from the Ministry of Health or undergo a rapid test at the airport before departure.
Every arriving and departing passenger will also be expected to wear face masks and exercise social distancing when airlines resume business according to UCAA’s Director Airports and Aviation Security, Eng. Ayub Sooma,

The development is in line with new guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation-ICAO, Airports Council International and the World Health Organization-WHO, as countries prepare to reopen airports for business as most of the airports have been closed to passenger traffic for more than two months. Sooma said in a statement.
He stressed further that they are working with officials from Ministry of health, Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs to ensure Entebbe Airport complies with the set guidelines.

Sooma further explained that some of the changes at the airport facilities will include provision of more space for boarding lounges, installation of automatic sensor, non-touchable doors and non-touchable taps, e- boarding pass readers and automated document readers to limit excessive scanning of passports. Three big marquess have already been erected to ensure passengers observe physical distancing.
Dr James Eyul, UCAA’s aviation medical specialist explained that health and immigration officers will be able to handle 100 passengers in the two tents for screening and processing of documents while samples will be collected from a maximum of ten passengers at the same time.

However, Dr Benson Tumwesigye, who led a delegation from the Ministry of Health to inspect the airport and assess the progress of the COVID-19 measures, says UCAA must improve on aeration inside the tents to avoid infection. He said the airport can only resume passenger flights when the health ministry is satisfied that the precautionary measures are adhered to.